Home / Sicariidae Spiders / Mediterranean Recluse (Loxosceles rufescens)

Mediterranean Recluse (Loxosceles rufescens)

The Mediterranean recluse originated in the Mediterranean areas as its name suggests, though, at present, its population has spread worldwide.

Scientific Classification

Mediterranean Recluse

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Both the sexes measure 0.23 – 0.39 inches (0.6 -1cm).

Color: They mostly have a brown body.

Other Characteristic Features: Like other recluse spiders, they too have a violin mark in an upside-down pattern on their cephalothorax.

Eggs

The females produce 1 – 5 egg sacs, with each having 30 – 300 eggs on average.

Spiderlings

The eggs hatch within a month, and the spiderlings take about a year to mature.

The Web

They mostly build spiral, symmetrical webs like their cousin, the brown recluse.

 

Mediterranean Recluse Spider Web

Are Mediterranean Recluse Spiders Venomous

Like most other species of their genus, the bites of the Mediterranean recluse could lead to a condition named loxoscelism, mostly characterized by skin lesions. However, only a single fatality case was recorded in 2016, though the spider responsible for it had not been identified.

Quick Facts

Distribution Global distribution
Habitat Crevices, garages, and backyards
Diet Small insects
Lifespan 1-2 years
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed
Mediterranean Recluse Spider

Did You Know

  • Because of a similarity in appearance, in the United States, people often mistake it for the brown recluse as the two have minimum physical differences.

Image Credits: Chiangraitimes.com, Static.inaturalist.org, C1.staticflickr.com

The Mediterranean recluse originated in the Mediterranean areas as its name suggests, though, at present, its population has spread worldwide.

Mediterranean Recluse

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Both the sexes measure 0.23 – 0.39 inches (0.6 -1cm).

Color: They mostly have a brown body.

Other Characteristic Features: Like other recluse spiders, they too have a violin mark in an upside-down pattern on their cephalothorax.

Eggs

The females produce 1 – 5 egg sacs, with each having 30 – 300 eggs on average.

Spiderlings

The eggs hatch within a month, and the spiderlings take about a year to mature.

The Web

They mostly build spiral, symmetrical webs like their cousin, the brown recluse.

 

Mediterranean Recluse Spider Web

Are Mediterranean Recluse Spiders Venomous

Like most other species of their genus, the bites of the Mediterranean recluse could lead to a condition named loxoscelism, mostly characterized by skin lesions. However, only a single fatality case was recorded in 2016, though the spider responsible for it had not been identified.

Quick Facts

Distribution Global distribution
Habitat Crevices, garages, and backyards
Diet Small insects
Lifespan 1-2 years
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed
Mediterranean Recluse Spider

Did You Know

  • Because of a similarity in appearance, in the United States, people often mistake it for the brown recluse as the two have minimum physical differences.

Image Credits: Chiangraitimes.com, Static.inaturalist.org, C1.staticflickr.com

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