Loxosceles simillima (northern violin spider) 0.25"

Species Overview

Loxosceles simillima, commonly known as the northern violin spider and sometimes circulated in the hobby as the Namibian recluse spider, is a small terrestrial crevice-dwelling spider native to southern and south-central Africa. Adults are considerably more ornate than many Loxosceles species, and specimens can vary substantially in coloration and contrast. The carapace ranges from pale gray-brown to dark reddish-brown, with variable golden-tan radiating markings surrounding a darker median area. In some individuals, the familiar violin-shaped marking is subdued or partially obscured by this broader patterning. The abdomen displays an irregular mosaic of golden-yellow, ochre, orange-brown, dark brown, and nearly black markings that may form paired spots, broken longitudinal bands, and transverse patches. The long, slender legs range from gray-brown to reddish-brown, often with lighter coloration concentrated around several joints. Mature males are smaller-bodied and proportionally longer-legged than females. Like other members of the genus, L. simillima possesses six eyes arranged in three widely separated pairs, but reliable species-level identification requires more than coloration or the presence of a violin-shaped marking.

In captivity, L. simillima establishes a sparse network of irregular silk beneath cork bark or between closely overlapping pieces of décor. Individuals usually remain concealed during the day and become more active after dark. This species also displays substantial tolerance toward conspecifics and can be maintained communally when provided with sufficient space, prey, and separate retreats. This tolerance should not be confused with truly cooperative social behavior, and cannibalism remains possible under crowded or poorly provisioned conditions. Although these spiders generally retreat rather than defend themselves, they can move rapidly and possess medically significant venom.

• Common Name: Northern violin spider, Namibian recluse spider
• Native Range: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa
• Life Habit: Terrestrial crevice-dweller
• Adult Size: 1.75–2.5 inches in diagonal leg span
• Lifespan: At least 3 years in captivity; exact maximum and sex-specific longevity remain poorly documented
• Temperament: Secretive and generally reluctant to bite; capable of rapid movement when disturbed
• Care Difficulty: Easy; strict containment and cautious maintenance required due to medically significant venom

Loxosceles simillima Care

Loxosceles simillima adapts well to captivity when maintained in a secure, well-ventilated enclosure with a mostly dry substrate and a narrow retreat. Although its environmental requirements are straightforward, its small size and medically significant venom require careful containment and deliberate maintenance practices. Individual housing provides the simplest and most predictable maintenance. Communal groups can also be successful but require proportionally more space, numerous separate retreats, regular feeding, and close observation. Members of Loxosceles generally have difficulty scaling clean, smooth vertical glass or plastic, making smooth-sided containers useful for housing and maintenance. However, this limitation should never be relied upon as the sole means of containment because scratches, seams, ventilation openings, accumulated silk, and enclosure décor can provide footholds. Long tools should be used during all maintenance and rehousing, and a secure catch cup should be kept within immediate reach. Whenever possible, perform these procedures inside a larger secondary container capable of holding the spider if it escapes the primary enclosure.

• Enclosure: 1 oz condiment cup or similar for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 4” x 4” x 4” or larger for adults. Use a tightly locking lid and ventilation openings smaller than the spider’s carapace.
• Substrate: A shallow layer of coconut fiber, peat moss, topsoil, sand, or a similar substrate is sufficient. Excessive substrate depth is not required. Provide a vertical or angled piece of cork bark positioned close to the enclosure wall to create a narrow, dark retreat.
• Temperature: 72–82°F. 
• Humidity: Low to moderate ambient humidity is generally sufficient. Approximately 25% of the substrate should remain slightly moist to provide a humidity gradient while allowing the remainder to stay dry. Avoid consistently damp substrate, condensation, and poorly ventilated conditions.
• Diet: Fruit flies, crickets, cockroaches, and other appropriately sized feeder insects.
• Feeding: Spiderlings can be offered appropriately sized prey once or twice weekly. Juveniles and adults are typically fed every 7–14 days, with feeding frequency adjusted based on prey size, growth rate, and the condition of the individual animal.
• Water: Lightly moisten the designated portion of substrate as needed. Provide water droplets on enclosure walls, cork bark, or other surfaces through regular light misting. This species readily drinks from these surfaces. Do not saturate the substrate or mist the entire setup.
• Routine Maintenance: Remove uneaten prey, monitor moisture levels, and spot-clean when necessary.

Natural History

Loxosceles simillima has one of the broadest documented distributions among African violin spiders. It has been recorded across nine African countries and, within South Africa, from elevations of approximately 83–1,816 meters. The species occurs in grassland, Nama Karoo, and savanna habitats. Individuals have been collected beneath rocks, fallen logs, loose bark, and leaf litter, as well as inside termite mounds, caves, buildings, and outbuildings. Rather than constructing a conventional prey-capture web, they produce only a small number of irregular silk strands around a concealed retreat. These strands can help alert the spider to nearby prey, but individuals may also leave the retreat to hunt after dark.

The species was described by R. F. Lawrence in 1927 from females collected at Andoni in present-day Namibia and Namakunde in Angola. Loxosceles spiniceps, described in 1952 from Zululand, South Africa, was placed in synonymy with L. simillima in a 2012 revision. Examination of specimens collected across the intervening range failed to reveal consistent differences separating the two. That revision also restored L. simillima as a valid species after it had previously been treated as a synonym of Loxosceles spinulosa. External patterning is useful for recognizing its general appearance, but the genital structures of mature specimens remain necessary for reliable separation from closely related African species.

Published captive observations provide unusually detailed information about reproduction and intraspecific tolerance in this species. One female excavated a shallow crater in sand, lined the depression with silk, deposited her eggs, and folded the surrounding substrate over the completed egg sac until it was concealed. Spiderlings emerged approximately one month later and remained near the female, which guarded them without displaying predatory behavior. The female and spiderlings were observed feeding on the same prey, and growing juveniles continued occupying groups when adequate space and food were available. These observations closely match the communal tolerance seen in established captive colonies, although individual retreats and consistent access to prey remain essential.