Texas Recluse
Loxosceles devia
This record describes Loxosceles devia (species). Recorded family: Sicariidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Coloration more variable than that of L. reclusa , with same dark pattern on carapace but this often reduced to dusky Y-shaped marking.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Sicariidae
- Genus
- Loxosceles (Brown Spiders)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The southwestern tip of Texas (and in Mexico).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Authors of the name: Gertsch & Mulaik. Year first published: 1940.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Loxosceles devia. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Texas Recluse (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Jeff Hollenbeck , cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Recluse
What is Texas Recluse?
Texas Recluse (Loxosceles devia) is a species in the family Sicariidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Texas Recluse?
Coloration more variable than that of L. reclusa , with same dark pattern on carapace but this often reduced to dusky Y-shaped marking.
Where is Texas Recluse found?
Range: The southwestern tip of Texas (and in Mexico).