How Long Do Huntsman Spiders Live?

Have you found a huntsman spider in your house and don’t know what to do with it? Wondering whether it will die on its own, or should you call an exterminator? We will answer these questions in the blog below.

One of the most common questions about the Huntsman Spider is how long they live.

People hope and pray that a huntsman in their house might die on its own rather than having to deal with it.

Wondering why this question is so well-searched online?

This is because these species of spiders are humongous in size, fast, agile, and often run directly toward their prey.

Moreover, it is capable of devouring small-sized possums and rodents, so it is certainly a formidable spider.

So let’s answer this question for you in the blog below.

How Long Do They Live?

Huntsman spiders belong to the Sparassidae family of arachnids. They are also known as Giant crab spiders and wood spiders.

Present in almost every continent except the Antarctic and Arctic belt, over 1,300 species of Huntsman spiders have been discovered to date.

They have a longer life cycle compared to most arachnoids. Living up to two years, the spiders shed their skin regularly to keep growing.

The hairy, long-legged spiders may not live like tarantulas for 17 to 20 years, but they certainly live more than 8 to 14 months, as in the case of araneomorph species.

These spiders reach sexual maturity by the age of nine to twelve months and live an additional year or more after that.

Lifecycle of Huntsman Spiders

Once the huntsman spider attains sexual maturity, its physiological appearance changes. In the case of males, the palps (the claw-like things in the front) become bigger.

In females, the genitalia on the underside of their abdomen becomes harder in readiness for producing eggs.

Mating

The males start searching for younger females and guard them until maturity.

Often found in pairs, when it is time, the males vibrate their palps to signal the mating process.

They step on the back of the female spider and insert their embolus into the female epigynum (you probably get what sexual organs they are equivalent to in humans).

The male uses one palp to mate first and then switches sides with the other palp. The mating ritual lasts anywhere between 1 to 8 hrs.

Laying Eggs & Hatchlings

Once the eggs are fertilized, the female spider lays an oval sac made of spider silk inside the loose bark of trees or crevices on rock walls. The sac contains about 180 to 220 eggs.

It takes anywhere between 3 to 4 weeks for the eggs to hatch. The mother opens the egg sac can by tearing it when it is optimal for the hatchlings to emerge.

Once the eggs hatch, the mother stays with the spiderlings until they undergo the first few stages of molting and grow a little bit.

How Big Can They Grow?

It is easy to mistake Huntsman spiders for Tarantula due to their large size and hairy appearance. However, they are easily distinguishable if you look carefully.

These spiders have a very long leg span. While their bodies grow between 0.8 to 1 inch in size, their legs can grow 7 to 12 inches during their lifespan.

At its peak, the giant huntsman spider is as big as a full dinner plate. It is the largest spider by leg span in the world.

Notably, the male huntsmen have longer legs than the females. Also, another difference between huntsmans and tarantulas is the crab-like positioning of the legs.

They are more flat-bodied than tarantulas, which allows them to crawl through the narrowest spaces despite their incredibly long limbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do huntsman spiders jump at you?

When disturbed, they appear to jump or fall from the surface they cling to, but these spiders are not jumpers.

It is their escape mechanism to run away from an alarming scenario by stunning the predators.

They have skinny, long legs located far away from their body, so when they fall, it looks like they are jumping.

Should you leave huntsman spiders in your house?

Huntsman spiders thrive by preying on insects; hence if you have a cockroach or lizard problem in the house, letting the huntsman do its hunting may not be such a bad idea.

These spiders are not at all harmful to humans. Even though they can cause painful bites, they are very timid and usually run away from us instead of trying to pick fights.

You should know that they are venomous spiders, so you should avoid being bitten.

However, these spiders aren’t good as pets, unlike other rare species of spiders, such as tarantulas. Huntsman spiders love to prey, so leaving them alone is a wise choice.

What kills a huntsman spider

Despite their sheer size, it is easy to kill huntsman spiders with insect sprays and aerosol alone. The aerosol impacts their nervous system and stops their breathing.

There is no need to call any insect or pest exterminators. Most often, you can easily capture them in a closed container and release them outside.

Why do huntsman spiders run at you?

Huntsman spiders have feeble vision. In their vision, humans resemble giant predators.

Rather than running at humans, these spiders often try to escape to a safer place the so-called predators cannot reach.

However, because they can’t see so well, they rush toward us rather than away.

Huntsman Spiders Aren’t Going To Die Away Quickly

Huntsman spiders do not bite humans without cause, nor do they pose a threat. However, their creepy crawly appearance can shock kids and adults alike.

Though they rarely appear as unwanted guests in human homes, it is best to capture and release them in the forest if you find one.

They can live for more than two years, so if you don’t like them, don’t wait around for them to die.

The huntsman spider is highly beneficial in handling unnecessary pests and insects that thrive on the destruction of the natural ecological balance.

If you find one in your home, you can release it in your garden and reap the benefits.