CLOSED: spider query

Mosta, Malta

what is this spider? i have seen it during the night and it stood still when i pointed light at it, then when i removed the light it flew away in an instant. I managed to get it under light again, it stopped again and then i took some photos of it. I took a look around for spiderwebs but i think i only saw one fresh one which was short and like a double string. I have also found irregular old webs with lots of dust along the ceiling. The room where i have seen it is used everyday however it probably came out of a wooden shelve which is rarely used.

Thumbnail by cjmalta Thumbnail by cjmalta Thumbnail by cjmalta Thumbnail by cjmalta
Minot, ND

Need a clearer close-up image; I'm not even sure of which family to assign this critter at this point...

Mosta, Malta

the third picture is quite clear if you zoom in. Can it be the brown recluse?
Thanks

Minot, ND

Its shape is consistent with that of a recluse spider and Loxosceles rufescens has been reported from Malta (see http://www.mariodiges.com/insectos/guadalajarajulio09/Loxosceles%20rufescens%20ag.jpg for an image), but I still cannot see enough detail in your image to be confident of an i.d.

Mosta, Malta

so in any case i musrt be worried as it was in my room?

Minot, ND

Even if it is Loxosceles rufescens (and I am not at all certain about that), I believe that simply caution rather than concern would be called for. This species tends to be very shy and non-aggressive, and even under circumstances where it is very abundant, bites appear rare. See http://www.entsoc.org/PDF/Pubs/Periodicals/AE/AE-2009/Fall/ae2009-fall-Greene.pdf for detailed information.

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