In this article, we cover everything you would like to know about the huntsman spider.
One of the largest spider species, Huntsman spiders are found all across the world – and often make their way into homes.
Certain species may only be native to specific areas. Their main habitat is tropical and sub-tropical areas of Asia, Australia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean.
They are a feared species in the insect kingdom, as, they actively pursue their prey and crush them using the two pincers in front, giving them their unique name.
But are they friendly to humans? How do they live and mate? We answer all your questions about huntsman spiders in this article.
What Are Huntsman Spiders?
Brown in color with bands of grey on their legs, huntsman spiders are big, hairy spiders belonging to the Sparassidae family.
They have eight eyes and small bodies that are around an inch long. However, they have incredibly slender and long legs, reaching up to 5 inches (on average) when uncurled.
Due to their long legs and hairy body, people often mistake them for tarantulas. They are much larger in size than regular spiders.
In fact, the giant huntsman spider is the world’s largest spider if we measure them by leg span. They have two eyes on the front in two long rows, each containing four eyeballs.
Their mouthparts have a reddish patch. Different species may also have other colors all over the body. Badge huntsman can have an overall pinkish-brown body.
Some tropical species have alternating black and white bands on their legs.
How Big Is A Huntsman Spider?
Huntsman Spiders are among the largest spiders in the world. The giant huntsman spider is the world’s largest
Generally, females are slightly larger in size than males. Their bodies are up to 1 inch long. The span of the legs, when unfurled, can range from 3 to 5 inches.
For the giant huntsman, this can be as long as 12 inches.
How Fast Is A Huntsman Spider
Huntsman spiders can move very quickly. The fastest huntsman spider can run as fast as 40 times their body length in a second.
This means they can cover a distance of around 5 meters in a second. To compare to this, even the fastest humans can only reach a speed of around 5 times their body length.
Do They Jump?
Different species showcase different types of locomotion.
Mostly, huntsman spiders move via fast walking and using their web to spring from one region to another.
As long as they have some leverage, they can “jump” and cover distances.
Some, like the wheel spider and Moroccan flic-flac spider, move by using a cartwheel-type motion where they flip their body over and over.
Using this method, they can run nearly twice as fast.
Types of Huntsman Spiders
Huntsman spiders are a varied species. There are over 1,383 species classified under the family of Sparassidae. Let’s take a look at some of the types of huntsman spiders.
Carparachne
This name includes two different species, both of which are native to Namibia.
Similar to cartwheel spiders, the carparachne spiders also use a rolling motion to quickly traverse over sand dunes and escape its predators.
Cebrennus
This is the genus of the Moroccan flic-flac spider and has a total of 17 species within it.
Their interesting motion is now inspiring scientists to create robots that can replicate the movement and traverse quickly across sandy environments.
They are native to Morocco and parts of the Arabian peninsula.
Diminutella
This genus has only one species, Diminutella cortina. They are found only in Cuba.
Their discovery is quite recent – in 2018. Among all huntsman spider species, these are the smallest in size.
Heteropoda
This genus houses the largest of all huntsman spiders. The infamous giant crab spider belongs here.
Heteropoda survive in the tropical areas of North America, Australia, Asia, and the Mediterranean.
It is less hairy than other species and moves sideways, similar to a crab
Delena
This genus of huntsman spiders is home to 4 spider species.
Among them, the Delena Cancerides is a uniquely social species where many adults share the same nest without resorting to cannibalism.
Species of this genus – like the Delena gloriosa, Delena Nigrifrons, and the Delena lapidicola are all only found in Australia.
Apart from these, there are many other genera like the Leucorchestris, Micrommata, and more.
Where Do They Live?
They mainly live within the foliage or trees or within small crevices of tree barks.
On the ground, you may find them under fallen barks and rocks, burrowing in loose sand, or in any slightly dark and damp place.
What Do They Eat?
As their name suggests, huntsman spiders are aggressive and stealthy hunters.
Unlike some spiders who are passive hunters, simply waiting for prey to get caught in their net – huntsman spiders actively stalk their prey.
Their diet includes smaller insects and arthropods. They also feast on larger animals like slugs, lizards, frogs, and in rare cases – even mice.
Pests like mosquitos and cockroaches are a fan favorite!
Who Eats Them?
Some common predators are carnivorous birds and larger lizards or geckos. Spider wasps also hunt on the smaller spiders of the family.
Despite having eight eyes, the eyesight of this spider is only average, and they cannot see objects at a distance.
In fact, some species, like the eyeless huntsman spiders that survive in caves, do not have eyes at all!
Among parasites, they are susceptible to nematode worms and parasitic wasps that may lay eggs on their body.
As the larvae hatch within their body, the worms feast on the spider’s internal fluids, eventually killing it.
There are cases of scorpions eating them as well. However, this is not a regular occurrence.
Life Cycle of Huntsman Spiders
Huntsman spiders can live for as long as two years or sometimes more.
Huntsman spiders have quite a romantic courtship when compared to other spiders, where the female often eats the male.
After courtship, female spiders lay up to 200 eggs in a single egg sack, which has a paper-like cover.
She guards it without eating until the younglings hatch. This may take three weeks or more, depending on the climate.
In some species, the female can carry the egg sac around with her. Females guarding their eggs are aggressive and attack, sensing danger.
After the smaller spiders are born, the mother accompanies them for a couple of weeks more.
She may also tear the egg sac during its later stages to aid the small ones coming out. During the initial weeks, the spiderlings grow by shedding their skin in a process called molting.
Sometimes, males and females may remain together during this time. Some species, like the Flat Huntsman, live in large spider colonies where up to 300 adults rear their children.
How Long Do They Live?
The usual lifespan of a huntsman spider is around two years, though it can be more. Hatching of eggs takes around 2 to 4 weeks.
Their lifespan is overall quite short when compared to those of other solitary species like the tarantula. Tarantulas can live for 20 to 25 years!
Do They Bite?
Huntsman spiders have pincers and can bite. Moreover, their bites are venomous and cause a multitude of reactions in humans.
If you see one, it is best not to provoke it. They don’t generally bite humans and are defensive rather than offensive on seeing us.
However, females who guard their egg sacs can be quite aggressive.
How Venomous Is A Huntsman Spider?
For insects, very. They use their venom to kill insects and even larger slugs and lizards.
However, for humans, their venom is not fatal. Despite this, if you get injected with their venom, you might suffer from nausea, headaches, and some localized pain and swelling.
The venom can also alter and lower your pulse rate for some time.
Can They Come Inside Homes?
It is quite common to find some species of huntsman spiders inside homes – especially the Flat Huntsman.
As they live in warm climates, they are always in the search of cooler places. If you have smaller cracks or crevices in your home or along windows, these can make the spider feel right at home.
They are also attracted by food like cockroaches within their homes.
What Are They Attracted To?
Huntsman spiders are mainly attracted to food. As they go in search of the same, they look around for moths and other insects.
Since these insects are primarily found around light sources, you might catch a spider loitering nearby as well. They are foragers and constantly after food sources.
How To Get Rid of Them?
Having a spider in your home the size of a dinner plate is something to be worried about, for sure.
You can get rid of them quite easily without external help. But first, never use a broom to sweep away a large spider.
They are excellent climbers and quick movers who might start climbing on the broom itself.
Here’s what you can do to get rid of them:
- Place a large container on top of the spider. Slide a thin piece of paper from beneath it until the spider is on the paper. Now take the container outside and release the spider.
- To prevent them from coming in, you can use any type of citrus or peppermint spray. Spray these along your windows, doors, ventilators, and any open ledges. Spiders detest the spicy smell, and it will deter them from moving in.
- If you find many of them, it means there is an egg sac that has hatched somewhere. Find the source by looking through all cracks and crevices and call pest control for proper chemical treatment.
You can also deter them from coming in by making sure there are no food sources like moths and cockroaches in your home. Installing a mesh or net can go a long way.
Comparison With Tarantulas
Based on how similar they look, it is easy to confuse a huntsman spider for a tarantula or vice versa. But you can easily distinguish them by:
- Looking at their legs – Tarantules have legs that fold underneath their body. But huntsman spiders have legs that open outwards and sideways – similar to crabs.
- Looking at their body size – Tarantulas have larger, hairier bodies and shorter legs. Hunstman spiders have smaller and sometimes flatter bodies with long legs.
- Looking at their behavior – Huntsman spiders are more likely to scurry away if you approach them. Tarantulas, on the other hand, are more aggressive and likely to approach.
Comparison With The Wolf Spider
Both these species are venomous spiders found in similar habitats. Here are some distinguishing signs to look for:
- Looking at their color – Huntsman spiders have brown bodies with grey or brown bands on their legs. Wolf spiders can be pink, orange, salmon, cream, or grey, with larger black and white bands on their legs.
- Looking at their legs – Huntsman spiders are known for their long legs with multiple bends. Wolf spiders come nowhere close and have stubbier legs that curl inwards.
- Looking at their eyes – Wolf spiders have eight eyes set in a row. The huntsman spider has two rows of 4 eyes each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do huntsman spiders hurt you?
Yes, the bite of a huntsman spider hurts and causes localized swelling. The venom can also cause headaches and nausea as it spreads.
They generally do not hurt humans but can if provoked. It is best to not touch them by hand.
What happens if you get bitten by a huntsman?
If you get a huntsman spider bite – seek medical attention immediately. Usually, your doctor will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine to prevent any fever or associated swelling.
If you are allergic to the venom, you will require further treatment. Swelling and pain will go down in a few days.
Which spider kills most humans?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the deadliest spider to date is the Funnel-web spider.
They are native to Australia. Though a bite may not necessarily contain venom – if they do inject venom, it is highly fatal with no known anti-venom.
Why do huntsman spiders run at you?
Huntsman spiders are not aggressive. If they run towards you, they are simply looking to escape you, by running into the shade.
However, sometimes, females protecting eggs may run at you to deter you from approaching the eggs.
Wrap Up
While not a common pet idea, people do keep huntsman spiders as pets in terrariums.
As long as they are left alone, huntsman spiders are non-threatening and quite chill.
A bite from them is not fatal and can be easily treated. Moreover, not all bites contain venom, as they mostly use venom to subdue prey.
But having said this, there are many impostors who look similar but are quite venomous. So it’s best to know how to identify various species.
Thank you for reading!
49 Comments.
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.
Daniel, Here’s a nice one, showing both aspects:
http://www.riddellscreeklandcare.org.au/Spiders/BadgeHuntsmanNdiana.php
Oh, and another from the same site:
http://www.riddellscreeklandcare.org.au/Spiders/BadgeHuntsmanNpatellatus.JPG
Daniel, Oh dear, I have just realised the photos in the links above are copyright to the Riddells Creek Landcare Group.
Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I
guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your
blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any suggestions for beginner blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
found 2 luminous . green spiders in my garden do not know what they are could they be poisonous. about the size of a 5p with a raised body
It looks very similar to Hepetoda maxima. The species was recently discovered in the caves of Laos. Depending on size, the oddities of the description fit very well.
well hello there i found one of those nastey spiders in my friends house. i live up in northern california about 30 miles northeast of chico, ca. you’d think its too cold up here in the mountains for them but guess not.
Winters in the high desert where many sightings occur are often snowy and cold.
Grey huntsmans Don’t build a web they are forages you are proberly thinking of orb weavers … [edited for content]
Dear Leon,
Thank you very much for all your comments and corrections on the Huntsman Spiders in our archives. This particular comment arrived in duplicate, [edited for content] though we don’t understand if you are addressing our editorial staff or Dylan who submitted the images claiming that this particular spider spins webs. We have made it abundantly clear that we are not experts here at What’s That Bug? and our primary mission is to promote an appreciation and tolerance of the lower beasts as we attempt to identify the numerous “bugs” that are submitted to our site from all over the world. We are artists and we have no formal entomology training nor any formal background in the natural sciences for that matter. We have always been, and we continue to be a pop culture site, and we have no formal affiliation with experts or science institutions, though we often request assistance from specialists within the field. Perhaps we are just being overly sensitive, but when you write: “get some sense into you and listen to the experts,” and then you write it a second time for emphasis, we can’t help but feel that you are addressing us and it feels like a personal attack. [edited for content] and often when people put things in writing the true intentions can be misunderstood. We don’t know which experts you are directing us to listen to. Are you perhaps an expert? You did not list any credentials when you submitted the comments. We thought we made it very clear in our original response to Dylan that Huntsman Spiders do not spin webs to snare prey, but we did not totally discount the possibility that they might use the silk they are capable of producing for other purposes, like shelter and transportation. Thanks again for your comments.
Dear Leon,
Thank you very much for all your comments and corrections on the Huntsman Spiders in our archives. This particular comment arrived in duplicate, [edited for content] though we don’t understand if you are addressing our editorial staff or Dylan who submitted the images claiming that this particular spider spins webs. We have made it abundantly clear that we are not experts here at What’s That Bug? and our primary mission is to promote an appreciation and tolerance of the lower beasts as we attempt to identify the numerous “bugs” that are submitted to our site from all over the world. We are artists and we have no formal entomology training nor any formal background in the natural sciences for that matter. We have always been, and we continue to be a pop culture site, and we have no formal affiliation with experts or science institutions, though we often request assistance from specialists within the field. Perhaps we are just being overly sensitive, but when you write: “get some sense into you and listen to the experts,” and then you write it a second time for emphasis, we can’t help but feel that you are addressing us and it feels like a personal attack. [edited for content] and often when people put things in writing the true intentions can be misunderstood. We don’t know which experts you are directing us to listen to. Are you perhaps an expert? You did not list any credentials when you submitted the comments. We thought we made it very clear in our original response to Dylan that Huntsman Spiders do not spin webs to snare prey, but we did not totally discount the possibility that they might use the silk they are capable of producing for other purposes, like shelter and transportation. Thanks again for your comments.
Ok I’ve kept a lot of these sp they do indeed build a silken chamber under bark and leavs but they don’t spend a web never in my keepings have they done that
I lived in Okinawa Japan for 5 yrs. We had keep our car windows closed at night because of this large hairy brown spider. The size was larger than a man’s hand.
how poisonous is the green huntsman spider.
Nearly all spiders have venom, but very few are dangerous to humans. According to British Spiders: “Status Very local and rarer in the north. Although this spider is not that easy to find, in spite of its size and colour, it is unlikely to be overlooked when seen by either general naturalists or arachnologists, and there appears to have been a long term decline. Threats The reasons for the decline in this species are unclear, but may be related to general landscape degradation in lowland Britain and fragmentation of semi-natural habitats.” No information is provided on danger to humans, which leads us to believe there is none. According to iNaturalist: “A bite from this spider on a human may cause some local swelling and a little bit of pain, and would be gone within 2 days.”
sad that this little green spider was killed
I have just released a Green Huntsman into the wild! He has been in my car for a few months. Probably from where I live in the summer in SW. France. He was a beautiful specimen. I hope he does alright. Fancy that Italian killing the one his wife found! Unbelievable! What an idiot! No wonder these species are becoming rare. I have seen the brown ones in Australia. They are massive,but harmless. Regards, Ash
27th Dec. 2015
Thanks very much for the great photo of a Green Huntsman Spider. Have just put a very lively, bright green spider outside into the shrubbery.
27th Dec. 2015
Thanks very much for the great photo of a Green Huntsman Spider. Have just put a very lively, bright green spider outside into the shrubbery.
Sorry, just to add to my comment above. I live in S.W. France.
Hi Daniel, thanks for the correction and yes, it is a huntsman, not a wolf spider. My mistake.
This is actually really fascinating, since the spider was found at Hatzeva, about 130km North of the Samar dunes. Our campsite was in a sandy area, but the sand is quite shallow and there are no dunes there. Maybe the range of this spider’s habitat is much larger than what was suspected.
That would be advantageous for the survival of the species.
Hi Daniel, thanks for the correction and yes, it is a huntsman, not a wolf spider. My mistake.
This is actually really fascinating, since the spider was found at Hatzeva, about 130km North of the Samar dunes. Our campsite was in a sandy area, but the sand is quite shallow and there are no dunes there. Maybe the range of this spider’s habitat is much larger than what was suspected.
It’s definitely Heteropoda spp. As to species, well good luck on that. I’ve collected many arthropods in the Phils, and have always run into issues, often even on genus. I’ve discovered a species of diplopod that exceeded the size of the species in Madagascar…. and nobody seems to have any data on it (typical of many species of arthropods of all kinds in the Phils). If I were doing a dissertation … looking for previously unidentified species … I’d start in the Philippines (probably Mindanao)
I found one exactly the same on my ceiling. I live in NSW, Australia
I remember these massive spiders that were pink with white hair. Big at least as big as a large males hand. A local in the kibbutz in Dead Sea told me these were scorpion eaters
Hi Jim,
I don’t know if this is one of the spiders you saw on the kibbutz, sounds to me more like a solifugid (AKA camel spider or wind scorpion) than a spider. They get to be huge and they do go after scorpions (or anything else they can catch).
Hi Jim,
I don’t know if this is one of the spiders you saw on the kibbutz, sounds to me more like a solifugid (AKA camel spider or wind scorpion) than a spider. They get to be huge and they do go after scorpions (or anything else they can catch).
We live in mid west France found one of these today, thought because its green it must be ok so I set it somewhere safe.
God makes the bad ones red or aggressive looking.
We live in mid west France found one of these today, thought because its green it must be ok so I set it somewhere safe.
God makes the bad ones red or aggressive looking.
Tho really no such thing as a “bad” animal (I include bugs as animals)…
The “timber insect hotel” seems to be not a spider cage, but a wooden outdoors structure. More simply put: a “birdhouse” for invertebrates; Wikipedia has further info on bug hotels.
I think it’s Cetratus sp. (Thomisidae):
http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2181
I think it’s Cetratus sp. (Thomisidae):
http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2181
These are very common where we live in central portugal took me ages to find out what they were.
I have just discovered a micrommata ligurina in my kitchen. It seems to be quite shy bobbing around behind my spice cupboard. I live in Mataelpino, in the Community of Madrid Spain. My garden is absolutely full of wildlife of all kinds and so it was fun discover a new resident.
Hi
I live in Narrabri and was working out at Wee Waa the other day. I found what I think was a banded huntsman. Is it rare to find this spider so far from the coast?
Hi
I live in Narrabri and was working out at Wee Waa the other day. I found what I think was a banded huntsman. Is it rare to find this spider so far from the coast?
Looks like Heteropoda, but I think H. venatoria never has this stripy legs, at least the ones introduced in Brazil, they are quite common here. This genus has so many species, many of them in Indonesia: https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/3115/Heteropoda
Thanks Cesar. We will edit the posting based on your comment.
this badge huntsman is neosparrasus calligaster female.
Thanks for the identification. We corrected your typo, converting “badhe” to badge.
Cant comment on the habitat as I live on the Coast at Pacific Palms. We often get Huntsman and only on occasions do we get the banded variety, but when we do I have observed that they are very large when banded.
Interestingly we have a “sick” huntsman in our bedroom at the moment and has been withdrawing as if dead over the last 2 days. This morning the spider has regain it’s spread and lo and behold it has now bands on its legs whereas it wasn’t banded prior to getting sick. What I would like to know is do they develop bands or is this just a strange co-incidence.
Ross
Cant comment on the habitat as I live on the Coast at Pacific Palms. We often get Huntsman and only on occasions do we get the banded variety, but when we do I have observed that they are very large when banded.
Interestingly we have a “sick” huntsman in our bedroom at the moment and has been withdrawing as if dead over the last 2 days. This morning the spider has regain it’s spread and lo and behold it has now bands on its legs whereas it wasn’t banded prior to getting sick. What I would like to know is do they develop bands or is this just a strange co-incidence.
Ross
The spider in this photo is Phoneutria depilata (Strand, 1909), a member of the family Ctenidae which need to be treated with some caution as can have a medically significant bite.
Do forgive my unusual manner of words I mean no offense I’m just stressed because I have a masive arachnophobia mams and sirs, “seldom see them”?! I had one crawling up my tired ass minutes ago sheeesh and I was about to sleep! ????
We found a banded huntsman on the boot of my car in Mudgee yesterday. Whether it had been in the car and hitched a ride to Mudbee from Rylstone where we’re staying I couldn’t say. (We live in Urunga.) whatever, I had ever seen one before.
We just had a yellow black banded huntsman inside on the ceiling of our lounge room. We are 600klm off the east coast in Central QLD