Traveling recluses

[antbebo]

I teach science at a middle school in West Texas. It is definitely spring time here with temps in the 90s already. Last week, on two seperate occasions, I caught two brown recluse spiders walking in my classroom amongst the desks in broad daylight (after having students in and out of the class several times). I thought they were supposed to be solitary and like the dark since I have only seen them in our haybarn before (the spiders, not the students). What is disturbing is that students pointed them out to me and wanted to keep them in the class. I nicely collected them in cups, without telling the students what they were, and let them go outside. Do they tend to roam for some reason?

 

[buthus]

I thought they were supposed to be solitary and like the dark

Seems that is mostly true. So, ya have to figure something got them moving.
I would first guess that they were physically disturbed ...janitorial meddling, air duct not used very much gets turned on...whatever. This probably happens all the time, you just never noticed them before. And/or (and probably very likely) there is a healthy population of reclusa living in the school and you just so happened to catch a couple occasional for whatever reason daytime wanderings.

 

[loxoscelesfear]

have reclusa at work, they roam this time of year, especially males, and I am way north of TX

 

[Venom]

L. reclusa do tend to wander. They do make webs, but aren't by any means tied to them.

 

[8+)]

Also, K. hibernalis males are often mistaken for reclusa. They are conspicous when wandering for females. Although, i do believe they mature later in the year, and also are mostly nocturnal?