Huntsman Spiders And Giant Crab Spiders | What's That Bug?

Category Archives: Huntsman Spiders and Giant Crab Spiders rss

Huntsman Spider, we believe

“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.

I like This

¶ Posted 06 March 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Giant Crab Spider from Maldives

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.

I like This

¶ Posted 09 January 2009 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Huntsman Spider

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.

I like This

¶ Posted 26 December 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Possibly Huntsman Spider from Ecuador

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

add Possibly Huntsman Spider from Ecuador

I like This

¶ Posted 22 November 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Badge Huntsman Spider

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

I like This

¶ Posted 13 November 2008 § ‡ Comments (4) ° Tagged: WTB? Down Under

Net Casting Spider and Huntsman Spider

Oddities from around the globe
Hi,
I just stumbled across your site and it looks like a useful resource. In fact at the moment I’m aiming to create my own site with species lists, photos and profiles for species from parts of the world I’ve visited. I’m particularly keen on finding information on species I haven’t been able to track down on the internet, since there’s a good chance others will have the same difficulty and my site could prove helpful to them. I’ve collected a fair few photos of unidentifiable insects and arachnids over the years, so I’m afraid this could take several e-mails. First up: An unusual net-casting spider from Mt Spec, Paluma Range National Park, in the Australian Wet Tropics. I’m afraid it’s not the world’s best photo, but the rounded body is unlike any net caster I’ve been able to find information on. Next: A brown huntsman spider (genus Heteropoda), also from the Wet Tropics (further north, in Babinda). Is this photo good enough to allow identification to species level? 3. A dragonfly from Queensland, near the Basalt River. There are more dragonflies to come, I’m afraid – this is the group I’ve had most trouble identifying. More to come. Thanks for bearing with me!
Phil Bowles

netcasting spider phil Net Casting Spider and Huntsman Spider huntsman phil Net Casting Spider and Huntsman Spider

Hi Phil,
You have overwhelmed us with the quantity of critters you want us to identify. Sadly, our identification capabilities do not extend into exotic tropical locations. We are thrilled to post your Net Casting Spider photo as we have one on our site, sans net. Dragonflies often give us problems as well. We encourage you to set up your own site and we will gladly provide a link when you do.