What is the scientific name of the Mediterranean recluse spider?

The scientific name of the Mediterranean recluse spider is Loxosceles rufescens.

This species belongs to Loxosceles, the genus commonly called recluse, violin, or brown spiders, and to the family Sicariidae. It was originally described by Jean-François Dufour in 1820 and is the type species of the genus. Its native range includes parts of southern Europe, northern Africa, and regions of western and central Asia, but it has also been introduced elsewhere.

Loxosceles rufescens is often confused with the North American brown recluse, Loxosceles reclusa. The similar names reflect their shared genus, not the same species. Identification should not rely only on a violin-shaped marking, because unrelated spiders can have similar patterns. Recluse spiders are more reliably distinguished by their six eyes arranged in three pairs. Bites are often minor, though rare cases can produce necrotic or systemic symptoms.