Web spinning huntsman
October 26, 2009
Web spinning huntsman
We get these around outside and inside our house (Queensland, Australia.) They look like male huntsman spiders, and are more active at night, but they also weave massive webs from time to time (between trees) with a very thick fiber. This one came out of my downpipe this morning and bit my arm, self defence I expect, the bite is not serious, just two red dots. Card is in the photo for scale, its the size of a regular credit card.
Dylan
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Gray Huntsman Spider
Hi Dylan,
We are nearly certain this is a Giant Gray Huntsman Spider, Holconia immanis, which we initially identified on the Geocities Brisbane Insect Website. We continued to search for information once we had the scientific name. A website called the Australian Natural History Website that appears to be run by individuals as opposed to being associated with a scientific organization indicates “The Grey Huntsman does not build a web and is found along the east coast of Australia. They are most active in the summer months and are often encountered in houses, gardens and forested areas. This spider does not bite readily and if it does the pain is mild and local to the bite area.“ A scientific paper written by Klaus Henle from the 1993 Journal of Arachnology that is posted online indicates: “Both species are typical sit-and-wait foragers.Adult H. immanis seem to have 1-2 preferredambush sites where most individuals were ob-served on many consecutive nights up to a period of 6 months.“ Another Australian Insect website that cites Henle’s observations indicates: “Habitat Huntsman spiders are found throughout the east coast of Australia. They do not build webs, and are usually found under bark or ivy or other such sheltered plants. They can also seek shelter inside houses. Diet Typically Huntsman spiders are described to be sit-and-wait foragers where they ambush their prey, often choosing favourite ambush sites (Henle, 1993).” The Insects of Townsville, Australia website built by Graeme Cocks has wonderful photographs. Since all the information we have been able to locate indicates that this species does not build webs, your observations are most interesting. All spiders can spin silk, but Hunting Spiders generally do not build webs as snares. If you are able to photograph this species with its web, please send us documentation in a followup email. It is possible that the Grey Huntsman Spider uses a silken line to move from tree to tree, but that it does not build an actual web.
Gray Huntsman Spider
Thanks Daniel.
I will keep an eye out for any webs. It happens rarely enough that I think it may be a mating or nesting thing. I’ve seen one wrap a palm frond in silk to make a kind of hide, then tie off the frond to our garage gutter. If I ever see it again, I will take some photos.
Cheers,
Dylan Tusler.
Large spider in Roatan, Honduras
Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 10:18 AM
We came across this spider crossing the road at night in Roatan Honduras. We were going to put something next to it to measure it, but right after I snapped the picture, a local ran up and stomped on it.
From leg-tip to leg-tip was about 5-6 inches.
-cd
Roatan Honduras
Giant Crab Spider
Dear cd,
Those locals have no respect for wildlife. We believe this is a Giant Crab Spider in the family Sparassidae, possibly the Banana Spider or Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria. That species is native to Asia, but has spread around the world in warmer countries with the popularity of bananas and the resulting agriculture and trade. It is a hunting species that is nocturnal. We would gladly defer to an expert who can provide more conclusive information.
¶
Posted 30 June 2009
§
‡
°
“Illegal” spiter at Port of Miami
Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 8:53 AM
Hi Bugman:
Found this spider in a container of crushed aluminum cans inbound from El Salvador at the port of Miami, the body is approximately 1 inch. The spider does not show aggression at all. I know that identifying spiders is not easy, but I do not want to send her to the extension service in alcohol, so your help is in appreciated it for the safe release of the spider. Just want your opinion if it is safe to release.
Roberto
Miami, FL
Huntsman Spider
Hi Roberto,
We are relatively certain this is a Huntsman Spider in the family Heteropodidae. One of the most widely ranging Huntsman Spiders is Heteropoda venatoria, but we are not certain your specimen is that species. Heteropoda venatoria is a harmless nocturnal hunter. We understand that some tropical Huntsman Spiders are quite poisonous.
¶
Posted 06 March 2009
§
‡
°
Spider In Kandooma Maldives
Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Dear bugman, We found this spider in out open-air bathroom in December, on Kandooma Island, Maldives. It seems to have some legs missing. The tiles were approx an inch square so it gives some idea that this spider was approx 3 inches across. My daughter has worked on the island for 9 months and it’s the first time she ever saw one there. What was it & was it poisonous? Thanksso much, Edwina from UK.
Edwina
Kandooma Island, Maldives
Giant Crab Spider
Hi Edwina,
This is a Giant Crab Spider in the family Sparassidae, but we are unable to identify the species. Many spiders in this family are nocturnal hunters that do not build webs. We frequently see individuals from the genus Olios with missing legs. The Giant Crab Spiders are sometimes called Huntsman Spiders.
¶
Posted 09 January 2009
§
‡
°
Spider almost the size of my hand
Wed, Dec 24, 2008 at 6:26 AM
I found this very large, very fast, and very creepy spider this morning near the back door on the inside of the house here in east central Florida. It has me squirming and freaking out, especially because it ran away and hid and is still somewhere in the house. Please, for my peace of mind, what is that thing?
Kristina
Titusville, FL
Huntsman Spider
Hi Kristina,
This Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria, is also known as a Banana Spider because it is believed to have been introduced to many worldwide seaport areas with warm climates from Asia with banana shipments. The species is now well documented in Florida and Georgia according to BugGuide. The Huntsman Spider is harmless and is a tolerated species in many parts of the world because it is a nocturnal hunter that feeds on cockroaches.
¶
Posted 26 December 2008
§
‡
°
Giant spider in Ecuador
Fri, Nov 21, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Friend that’s visiting found this spider in her sink – then behind her hand towel. it’s about 4-inches across. Is there a potential that this is venomous?
Curious in CA
Ecuador – Quito
Possible Huntsman Spider from Ecuador
Hi Curious,
Our first thought was that this resembled some type of Huntsman Spider. We received a previous photo from Ecuador that Eric Eaton identified as probably a Huntsman Spider, and we also posted images of large spiders from Costa Rica about the same time. Eric Eaton wrote to caution readers about large tropical spiders. Here is what he wrote: ” Ok, the spiders from Ecuador and Costa Rica: They are most likely NOT wolf spiders, but wandering spiders, either in the family Ctenidae or Sparassidae. They tend to be more common, and even larger than, wolf spiders in the tropics. At least one species, Phoneutria fera, is extremely aggressive, with potentially deadly venom. Do not mess with large spiders in Central and South America! The venomous types are very difficult to distinguish from harmless species, and in any event, a bite is going to be really painful. These spiders sometimes stow away in bananas, houseplants, and other exported goods, so they can show up in odd places. Be careful where you put your hands.” We are not certain that this spider is a dangerous species, but we would urge caution. In North America, the Huntsman Spiders, though large and scary, are harmless.
Hi, Daniel:
Wow, you have been very busy posting! I turn my back for a week and….wham! LOL!
Also, I need to amend my commentary on the neotropical “wandering spiders.” Apparently envenomation symptoms vary considerably, from mild to death. Big help, eh? It depends on whether it is a dry bite or not, and how an individual’s immune system responds to envenomation. Please prompt me to send along an article about them (I need an address, though).
Eric
¶
Posted 22 November 2008
§
‡
°
Please identify this spider – from australia
Tue, Nov 11, 2008 at 5:32 PM
This spider came out at night (on the outside of our glass door) – it is about the size of a disposable coffee cup lid (including its legs) and I have tried to identify it from australian spider charts with no luck.
The bands on the legs were already bright though the flash from the camera made them a bit brighter. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Alex
NSW Central coast, Australia
Badge Huntsman Spider
Hi Alex,
We believe this is a Banded Huntsman Spider in the genus Holconia. We found an Australian government website with some photos of Huntsman Spiders, but they don’t show the Banded Huntsman Spider on the ventral surface like your photo. Ventral surface photos for identification are not that common.
Correction:
This spider looks like a Badge Huntsman in the genus Neosparassus (formerly Olios). Brunet, in “Spiderwatch: A Guide to Australian Spiders”,says that Badge Huntsman, with 25 species, “have blue, yellow, black and white bands and spots on their legs, and often a brilliantly coloured ‘badge’ design on the ventral surface of their abdomens…” Most of them are harmless, but there are two species that can produce a brief illness if they bite humans.
Grev
Thanks Grev,
WE are having a difficult time finding a ventral surface view that shows the “badge” but we did find another nice Huntsman Spider page.
Daniel, Here’s a nice one, showing both aspects:
http://www.riddellscreeklandcare.org.au/Spiders/BadgeHuntsmanNdiana.ph
And another from the same site.
http://www.riddellscreeklandcare.org.au/Spiders/BadgeHuntsmanNpatellatus.JPG
Grev
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for getting back to me re my spider.
I have had feedback from another source also saying it is a banded (or badged) huntsman and completely harmless. It is nice to know what it is and its presence is very appreciated (apparently disposes of mosquitos and cockroaches).
Many thanks,
Alex
rss
