Growing concern over the Mediterranean violin spider (Loxosceles rufescens) in the Balearics has emerged, as recent cases indicate inadequate medical awareness and delayed diagnoses put patients at risk of severe complications including necrosis and extended hospital admissions.
Although the Mediterranean violin spider is both widespread and well-documented across the region, a significant number of local healthcare staff remain unaware of its presence, often leading to incorrect treatment protocols when patients present with bites. Such missteps can aggravate the severity of the wound, as seen in several recorded cases resulting in tissue necrosis and, in extreme situations, the risk of lasting injury.
Bite victims face serious health challenges
Natalia Pérez, a resident who experienced these shortcomings in the system first-hand, was affected in September after discovering what looked like a mosquito bite on her upper thigh. Over the following week, her condition deteriorated — with swelling, fever, and intense pain. Despite visiting A&E and her GP twice, she was not initially admitted. It was only after her mother, a nurse at Cruz Roja Palma, saw the wound and insisted she seek further care that Pérez was hospitalised for ten days on intravenous antibiotics. "The doctor told me I was lucky, because the bacteria transmitted by the spider was eating my skin, but hadn’t reached muscle or bone. If I’d waited any longer, it could have caused much more damage," she recalls.
The exact species of spider responsible remains unconfirmed, yet specialist Guillem Pons notes Pérez’s symptoms matched "99%" those known from Loxosceles bites. Pérez herself describes the experience: "I’m not sure where I was bitten, as I’d been moving between home and hospital. Initially, it was just a larger-than-usual bite, but it kept growing and became extremely painful. My leg was burning — I’d never felt anything like it."
An attempt at drainage during a private clinic visit, assumed to be treating pus, actually made matters worse: "The spider had introduced bacteria that created cavities under my skin. The area didn’t visibly open until the wound burst. This infection started to consume my skin, leading to hospitalisation and necrosis," she said. Given the rapid spread, handling by non-specialist staff can worsen outcomes. Her case improved only after correct identification and sustained antibiotic treatment at Cruz Roja. She noted, "With IV antibiotics and regular cleaning, there was improvement, although removing the dead tissue was horrific." Photographs of Pérez’s injury documented the alarming progression.
Ongoing misdiagnosis and calls for better awareness
Pérez’s situation is not isolated. Similar cases have been reported, including that of a 60-year-old woman from Menorca who was told by her doctor that violin spiders did not exist in the Balearics — contrary to scientific evidence. In another incident in 2024, a 32-year-old woman in Ibiza almost lost her leg due to tissue necrosis following a suspected violin spider bite; her limb was saved after multiple surgeries and skin grafts.
Expert Guillem Pons has repeatedly called for improved cooperation between healthcare providers and entomologists. He advocates for a public awareness campaign by the Conselleria de Salut to educate both medical staff and residents about the risks posed by Loxosceles rufescens. According to Pons, bites often occur in varied settings — homes, beaches, cars, and even university bathrooms. He advises patients to report severe, burning pain and rapid skin damage to their doctors, and flags a worrying trend of underreporting and misunderstanding regarding the species.
Pons also recommends establishing an official database to monitor reported cases of loxoscelism — the clinical term for symptoms induced by Loxosceles spider bites. He maintains, "It’s a common species that can turn up almost anywhere, especially under stones or in crevices." Highlighting the clear symptoms — pain exceeding that of a wasp sting, intense heat, and rapid necrosis — he stresses the need for prompt medical attention and accurate identification to prevent further severe cases in the future.