Mediterranean Recluse
Loxosceles rufescens
This record describes Loxosceles rufescens (species). Recorded family: Sicariidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
An introduced species. The bites of these spiders do not produce the severe reactions typically associated with the brown recluse spider. Loxosceles rufescens apparently has not been associated with cases of human loxoscelism, but in experiments done on mice and rabbits, the venom of L. rufescens has been found to have effects similar to those of Loxosceles reclusa (Smith and Micks, 1968; Shulov et al., 1962)
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
Northeastern United States
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of the name: Dufour. Year first published: 1820.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Loxosceles rufescens. 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 Mediterranean Recluse (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , cheins , jsloan