第 0660 號，共 1 402 號

Mediterranean recluse

Loxosceles rufescens

名字的由來： The specific name rufescens means "reddish", referring to the colour of the species.1

只是會痛會痛，但不會對你造成嚴重傷害。

蜘蛛

咬吃：昆蟲

對人的危險: 疼痛可能會非常痛，但幾乎從來不會很嚴重。

The Mediterranean recluse spider is a small spider that comes from the Mediterranean region. It has spread to many parts of the world through human travel and trade, and it is listed as one of the most invasive spiders in the world. Its bite can cause skin damage, so it is worth knowing what it looks like.1

分布在

Mediterranean and western Asia; now also Madagascar, south-east Asia, Australia, islands and North America1

歐洲, 亞洲, 非洲

首頁

It usually lives in caves, basements and tunnels, and prefers warm, generally dry weather. Where it is not native, it is often found in damp places such as basements, where it hunts cockroaches and silverfish. In 2021, spiders of this species were found in a university library basement, which led to the library closing for two days.1

長度

7 mm 到 7,5 mm (0,3 in 到 0,3 in)1

最高速度

大約 0,8 km/h（0,5 mph）

在陸地上, 粗略估計

牠吃什麼？

It is an active hunter that goes out at night to catch and kill insects, rather than waiting in a web. It mainly targets smaller insects, such as silverfish and cockroaches, because their soft bodies are easier to overcome.1

Mediterranean recluse 的照片 — Mediterranean recluse。照片：Ludivine Lamare。 CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist.

怎麼認出牠

A medium-sized spider with three pairs of two eyes arranged in a triangle, instead of the usual eight eyes1
A violin-shaped pattern on the front part of the body (cephalothorax)1
Adults of both sexes grow to about 7 to 7.5 cm... no, 7 to 7.5 mm long1
Its web is very thin and fragile, made of silk strands laid in a disorganised way1

常被誤認為： It is nearly indistinguishable in appearance from the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa). Pest control for one can often be adapted for the other.1

毒液力量

咬

咬的時候，毒液會從毒牙或牙齒出來。

牠的毒液有什麼作用？

Its venom contains an enzyme called sphingomyelinase D, which causes necrosis, meaning the death of skin and other tissue around the bite. Most cases are medically insignificant. In some cases, penetrating pain starts 2 to 8 hours after the bite, followed by burning, and the area becomes red and painful. A blister may form that turns dark blue with a sunken centre over several days. In rare cases, the blood and kidneys can be damaged, which can lead to kidney failure.1

牠對人有多危險？

對人的危險: 疼痛可能會非常痛，但幾乎從來不會很嚴重。

Most bites are medically insignificant, but some people are affected much more seriously. In 2024, the species was blamed for the deaths of two people in Italy.1

如果牠咬人

清洗咬傷處，用冰敷袋冰敷止痛。如果很痛、疼痛擴散或傷者覺得不舒服，要就醫。

一定要先打緊急電話（112、000、911）。這是一般急救指引，不是醫療建議。急救基本知識

注意安全

絕對不要碰、抓或捉弄野生動物，就算是很小的動物，就算牠看起來在睡覺或已經死了也一樣。
給牠空間。如果遇到了，保持冷靜，慢慢往後退，讓牠自己離開。
如果被牠咬了：保持冷靜，保持不動，打緊急電話（112、000、911）或趕快去醫院。記住牠的樣子，有照片會很有幫助。

牠不是想來抓你。牠用毒液來捕捉食物或保護自己，而且牠更想躲起來。更多安全知識

在世界上的哪裡？

非洲亞洲歐洲北美洲南美洲澳洲與大洋洲

牠有多大？

牠有多長？

小到可以坐在你的指甲上

Mediterranean recluse 跟「你」比起來有多大？

只是在你的瀏覽器裡做算術。什麼都不會儲存，也不會傳送到任何地方。

牠有多快？

一隻陸龜 大約 0,3 km/h (0,19 mph)

Mediterranean recluse 大約 0,8 km/h (0,5 mph)

一個正在走路的人 大約 5 km/h (3,1 mph)

值得知道

小知識

It is listed as one of the most invasive spiders in the world.1

It can survive for long periods without food and water, which makes it hard to control in homes.1

Young spiders shed their skins several times as they grow, and these skins often look pale and ghostly.1

Males hunt more actively than females, partly because they are also searching for a mate.1

給毒液專家

學名: Loxosceles rufescens
類群: 蜘蛛
家人: Sicariidae2
排序: Araneae
各大洲: 歐洲, 亞洲, 非洲
寶寶: Egg sacs contain about 40 eggs, which take a few weeks to hatch, depending on the temperature.1
牠在野外的狀況: Least Concern (South African National Biodiversity Institute)1
對人的危險: 2 / 5: 疼痛3