What kind of spider?? - Loxosceles

Loxosceles

What a great find. I'm quite jealous as these are fairly rare here in Ohio.

Hard to tell from markings alone, but I'm leaning towards L. rufescens.

Unless the identifications by Gertsch(1) are in question, both rufescens and reclusa have been found in the Cincinnati area; reclusa from Loveland, and rufescens from Cincinnati and Columbus.

Hopefully you aren't alarmed by this. I can't stress enough that the reports of human envenomation are greatly exaggerated. In some states, the number of recluse envenomations reported is far greater than the total number of actual specimens that have ever been collected(2)(3)(4).

If you are at all nervous, I highly recommend reading this article, titled An Infestation of 2,055 Brown Recluse Spiders and No Envenomations in a Kansas Home. Click the "Free PDF" link to view the entire article.

… Jay Barnes, 29 December, 2008 - 3:50pm

Can you be more specific

about where in Ohio? Our range map just shows them in the Cincinnati area.

… john and jane balaban, 24 December, 2008 - 8:56am

The part of Ohio I am in.....

I am in the South West part of Ohio. The closest town (3 miles) is BLanchester. I live close to the woods. I found this spider on a coat that was in my garage.

… Mike D. Gaffney, 25 December, 2008 - 5:57am

Not positive

but check out images of the Brown Recluse here in the guide and see what you think. One of our experts will know for sure.

… Jon M. Yuschock, 24 December, 2008 - 7:25am

Loxosceles sp.

According to my friend Dr. Greta Binford, an expert on venomous spiders, only the "Mediterranean brown spider," Loxosceles rufescens, has been recorded from the Cincinnati area. I know we had them at the zoo when I worked there (not in cages, unfortunately! LOL!). This specimen is definitely in the genus Loxosceles at any rate.

… Eric R. Eaton, 24 December, 2008 - 10:56am