Huntsman spider!
Australian Huntsman spiders belong to the Family Sparassidae (formerly
Heteropodidae) and are famed as being the hairy so-called 'tarantulas' on house
walls that terrify people by scuttling out from behind curtains.
Alternative Name/s
Tarantula, Giant Crab Spider
Number of species
94 described species.
Identification
Huntsman spiders are large, long-legged spiders.. They are mostly grey to
brown, sometimes with banded legs. Many huntsman spiders, especially
Delena (the flattest), and including Isopeda,
Isopedella and Holconia, have rather flattened bodies adapted
for living in narrow spaces under loose bark or rock crevices. This is aided by
their legs which, instead of bending vertically in relation to the body, have
the joints twisted so that they spread out forwards and laterally in crab-like
fashion ('giant crab spiders'). Both Brown (Heteropoda) and Badge
(Neosparassus) Huntsman spiders have less flattened bodies.
Brown Huntsman (Heteropoda species) spiders are patterned in motley
brown, white and black.
Size range
Body lengths: 2 cm (female), 1.6 cm (male); Leg span: up to 15 cm
Distribution
These genera are generally widely distributed throughout Australia, although
Heteropoda is absent from most of Southeastern Australia and Tasmania
has only a few Huntsman species, notably Delena cancerides and
Neosparassus spp.
Habitat
Huntsman Spiders are found living under loose bark on trees, in crevices on
rock walls and in logs, under rocks and slabs of bark on the ground, and on
foliage. Dozens of the social huntsman species, Delena cancerides, can
be seen sitting together under bark on dead trees and stumps (notably wattles)
but they can also be found on the ground under rocks and bark slabs.
Huntsman spiders of many species sometimes enter houses. They are also
notorious for entering cars, and being found hiding behind sun visors or running
across the dashboard.
Habitat type
Terrestrial Habitat: peridomestic, tree hole, under bark
Feeding and Diet
Food consists of insects and other invertebrates.
Feeding Habits
arthropod-feeder, carnivorous, insectivorous
Life history mode
aerial
Life cycle
The female Huntsman (Isopeda, for example) produces a flat, oval egg
sac of white papery silk, and lays up to 200 eggs. She then places it under bark
or a rock, and stands guard over it, without eating, for about three weeks.
During this period the female can be quite aggressive and will rear up in a
defensive display if provoked. Some species will even carry their egg sac under
their bodies while moving about. Delena females lay a ground-sheet of
silk upon which the egg sac is anchored while the eggs are laid into it. They
will then complete her egg sac and pick it up, leaving the silk ground-sheet
behind. Incubation periods vary and are probably influenced by climatic
conditions.
In some cases (Isopeda), the female may moisten and tear the egg sac
open, helping her spiderlings to emerge. The mother stays with them for several
weeks. Young Huntsman spiders are pale. They undergo several moults while still
with their mother, hardening to a darker brown, and eventually disperse.
Huntsman spiders, like all spiders, moult in order to grow and often their
old skin may be mistaken for the original spider when seen suspended on bark or
in the house.
The lifespan of most Huntsman species is about two years or more.
Mating and reproduction
In the genus Isopoda, the male and female Huntsman spiders have a
lengthy courtship, which involves mutual caresses, with the male drumming his
palps on the trunk of a tree. He then inserts his palps into the female to
fertilise her eggs. The male is rarely attacked, unlike some other species, and
in fact many huntsman spiders live peacefully together in large colonies. A
silken retreat is often built for egg laying, as well as for moulting.
Predators, Parasites and Diseases
Predators of Huntsman Spiders include birds and geckoes, Spider Wasps,
nematode worms and egg parasites (wasps and flies).
Danger to humans and first aid
A cold pack may relieve local pain. Seek medical attention if symptoms.
persist.
Heteropodidae) and are famed as being the hairy so-called 'tarantulas' on house
walls that terrify people by scuttling out from behind curtains.
Alternative Name/s
Tarantula, Giant Crab Spider
Number of species
94 described species.
Identification
Huntsman spiders are large, long-legged spiders.. They are mostly grey to
brown, sometimes with banded legs. Many huntsman spiders, especially
Delena (the flattest), and including Isopeda,
Isopedella and Holconia, have rather flattened bodies adapted
for living in narrow spaces under loose bark or rock crevices. This is aided by
their legs which, instead of bending vertically in relation to the body, have
the joints twisted so that they spread out forwards and laterally in crab-like
fashion ('giant crab spiders'). Both Brown (Heteropoda) and Badge
(Neosparassus) Huntsman spiders have less flattened bodies.
Brown Huntsman (Heteropoda species) spiders are patterned in motley
brown, white and black.
Size range
Body lengths: 2 cm (female), 1.6 cm (male); Leg span: up to 15 cm
Distribution
These genera are generally widely distributed throughout Australia, although
Heteropoda is absent from most of Southeastern Australia and Tasmania
has only a few Huntsman species, notably Delena cancerides and
Neosparassus spp.
Habitat
Huntsman Spiders are found living under loose bark on trees, in crevices on
rock walls and in logs, under rocks and slabs of bark on the ground, and on
foliage. Dozens of the social huntsman species, Delena cancerides, can
be seen sitting together under bark on dead trees and stumps (notably wattles)
but they can also be found on the ground under rocks and bark slabs.
Huntsman spiders of many species sometimes enter houses. They are also
notorious for entering cars, and being found hiding behind sun visors or running
across the dashboard.
Habitat type
Terrestrial Habitat: peridomestic, tree hole, under bark
Feeding and Diet
Food consists of insects and other invertebrates.
Feeding Habits
arthropod-feeder, carnivorous, insectivorous
Life history mode
aerial
Life cycle
The female Huntsman (Isopeda, for example) produces a flat, oval egg
sac of white papery silk, and lays up to 200 eggs. She then places it under bark
or a rock, and stands guard over it, without eating, for about three weeks.
During this period the female can be quite aggressive and will rear up in a
defensive display if provoked. Some species will even carry their egg sac under
their bodies while moving about. Delena females lay a ground-sheet of
silk upon which the egg sac is anchored while the eggs are laid into it. They
will then complete her egg sac and pick it up, leaving the silk ground-sheet
behind. Incubation periods vary and are probably influenced by climatic
conditions.
In some cases (Isopeda), the female may moisten and tear the egg sac
open, helping her spiderlings to emerge. The mother stays with them for several
weeks. Young Huntsman spiders are pale. They undergo several moults while still
with their mother, hardening to a darker brown, and eventually disperse.
Huntsman spiders, like all spiders, moult in order to grow and often their
old skin may be mistaken for the original spider when seen suspended on bark or
in the house.
The lifespan of most Huntsman species is about two years or more.
Mating and reproduction
In the genus Isopoda, the male and female Huntsman spiders have a
lengthy courtship, which involves mutual caresses, with the male drumming his
palps on the trunk of a tree. He then inserts his palps into the female to
fertilise her eggs. The male is rarely attacked, unlike some other species, and
in fact many huntsman spiders live peacefully together in large colonies. A
silken retreat is often built for egg laying, as well as for moulting.
Predators, Parasites and Diseases
Predators of Huntsman Spiders include birds and geckoes, Spider Wasps,
nematode worms and egg parasites (wasps and flies).
Danger to humans and first aid
A cold pack may relieve local pain. Seek medical attention if symptoms.
persist.