A newly published study co-authored by University of South Florida alum Louis Coticchio and USF integrative biologist Deby Cassill challenges long-standing assumptions about the brown recluse spider, ...

“This research shows that brown recluse spiders aren’t the boogeyman that everyone makes them out to be,” Coticchio said.

Most people who spot a black widow in the garage or a brown recluse behind the water heater reach for the nearest shoe. That instinct, while understandable, may be exactly the wrong move. The venom ...

A brown recluse encounter can unfold in seconds, often in places where people feel safest. The video breaks down how these spiders behave, where they hide, and why accidental contact is the most ...