It’s said to be shy, solitary, and almost unseen… And yet, a simple bite can lead to significant damage to the skin. The brown recluse doesn’t look for trouble, but when it fights itself, it can be dangerous. Who really is this spider?

It is a small brown spider, no bigger than a 10-cent coin, lurking in a dark corner. A strange violin-shaped mark drawn on its back. therefore, its nickname is the “violinist spider.”

This small animal—generally measuring between 8 mm and 1.5 cm—belongs to the genus Loxosceles. It has only six eyes, whereas most of its congeners have eight. Its velvety, light brown body merges easily into its surroundings.

Its venom is cytotoxic, meaning it damages the cells around the bite. This can cause severe skin damage, sometimes accompanied by fever, vomiting, and even more serious complications in very rare cases.