What genus contains the brown recluse spider?

The genus containing the brown recluse spider is Loxosceles.

The brown recluse’s full scientific name is Loxosceles reclusa. It belongs to the family Sicariidae, a group that includes recluse spiders distinguished from many familiar spiders by having six eyes arranged in three pairs rather than eight eyes.

The genus name matters because “brown recluse” is a common name, while Loxosceles identifies the broader scientific group. Several related recluse species occur in the United States and elsewhere, so not every Loxosceles spider is the brown recluse specifically. The species name reclusa means “recluse,” reflecting its tendency to avoid contact.

A common mix-up is treating the violin-shaped marking as a definitive identification. That mark can appear on other spiders; experts also examine eye arrangement, body features, geography, and other traits. The brown recluse is native mainly to the south-central United States, and alleged sightings far outside that range are often misidentifications. Its venom can cause loxoscelism, but most encounters do not lead to severe injury.