Chilean recluse spider: Frequently asked questions

If it bites, the spider can secrete venom. This venom can cause severe skin damage. However, this species of spider is not considered to be aggressive, is nocturnal, and shy of humans. The consulting expert therefore assesses the risk as very low.  

In the unlikely event of a bite, the risk is very low according to a study, compared to the dangers we expose ourselves to every day, such as in traffic. The study, which documented spider bites in Brazil over a period of seven years, concludes that two percent of documented bites lead to more serious cutaneous problems, i.e., damage to the skin. 0.03 percent of bites (1 in 3,000 bites) were fatal.

Source: E. Marques da Silva et al. Loxosceles Spider Bites in the State of Paraná, Brazil: 1993-2000. J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis., 2006, 12, 1, p.111. 

Rinse the bite with water and cool the bite area. Seek medical attention immediately. The best place to go in Tübingen is the central emergency room at the University Hospital.

Sightings are currently confirmed in the following buildings: 

• Morgenstelle Lecture Hall Center
• Refectory Morgenstelle
• Center for Plant Molecular Biology
• Building at Hölderlinstr. 12/Sigwartstr. 10

Users of the affected rooms will be informed immediately if a finding is confirmed.
Further suspected cases are being investigated on an ongoing basis.

Around 20 specimens of the Chilean recluse spider have been caught so far. The adhesive traps will reveal the total size of the population at the University and where individual spiders live, among other things.

A university employee noticed the spider in the basement of the Morgenstelle lecture center and caught it. Dr. Hubert Höfer from the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe identified the spider. Hubert Höfer continues to advise the University on how to deal with the Chilean recluse spider.

It is no longer possible to reconstruct how the spider was brought to the university. It probably arrived as a stowaway in a shipment of goods from South America. Since this species of spider is shy of humans and nocturnal, it is possible that the animal has been living unnoticed in the university buildings for several years or even decades.

The University has hired a pest control company to combat the spider species using adhesive traps. Further steps will be taken as necessary. The pest control company and the university are in close contact with Dr. Hubert Höfer.

This risk is extremely low. Experts believe that the spider is not prone to spreading. In addition, the climate in Germany is too cold for the animals. A spread similar to that observed with the Nosferatu spider is therefore not to be expected.

Any worries or concerns you may have are understandable. If you feel at risk, please contact your supervisor or lecturer.  

To assess the situation, it is worth taking a look at South America. Similar to Pholcidae in Germany, Loxosceles laeta is a fairly common household spider in some South American countries. It lives in close proximity to humans there. The spider only poses a danger if it is crushed. This usually happens when the spider hides in clothing or shoes lying around, which are then put on.

Populations of the spider have been living in buildings at the University of Helsinki and Harvard University for several decades.

Precautionary measures must be taken for certain activities in the affected rooms. The respective supervisors are responsible for this. Information and templates can be found on the Occupational Health and Safety secton's website.

This information is also relevant if service providers carry out work on your behalf in the affected areas.

No. No research was conducted on this species of spider at the University of Tübingen. The animals were also not kept at the university.