Verified answer

Here's a range map, for brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa)

http://insects.about.com/od/spiders/tp/brown-reclu...

wiki article on brown recluse, note range map

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_recluse_spider

Note both range maps emphatically state, Minnesota is NOT

within normal range of the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa)

hope that helps

Brown Recluse Range Map

Brown Recluse Map

If you are not sure of what exactly to look for, any brown spider could look like a recluse.

Here's what I consider the best guide on the net to identifying recluse spiders.

http://spiders.ucr.edu/recluseid.html

Minnesota is way out of the natural range of brown recluse spiders, though.

I am sure that I was bit by a brown recluse spider in May of this year - it has eaten a hole in my leg. I doctored for it first and my doctor sent me to a wound specialist and he said it looked like a brown recluse spider bite when he looked at it. I had sever itching when it happened and it hurt when I would itch it. The hole in my leg is about the size of a pennie to a nickel. I never saw the spider but knew immediately when I was bit.

BJ

Hi, there are many spiders that look just like the brown recluse, they will have the fiddle and all. The only way to tell for sure is there eyes, all spiders have 8 eyes in pairs in the front, the BR only has 6 eyes. 2 in the middle and then 2 on each side of the head near the legs. Good luck, and i hope this helps you. also they are not only brown. they can be pretty much any color but red, and have or not have hair. so just look for the eyes on any spider, they are also very fast and play dead. as far as the abdomen or bottom as you call it, they can be pointed or round and many different colors.

I just got bit by a spider in Minnesota and the doctor said it was a brown recluse spider bite as soon as he seen it! I had sever itching and buring up my arm and swelling

Frankly, I have a different opinion