Large Huntsman Spiders a Gardeners Ultimate Biocontrol
A Large Huntsman Spider (Family Heteropodidae, also know as Sparassidae) with the banded undersides of its legs visible.
Many people are scared of spiders, however, with gardeners becoming more tolerant of the creatures that share their gardens, hopefully spiders are benefiting from this change of heart.
Large Huntsman Spiders
Often called rain spiders because they and other species of the genus Palystes regularly enter buildings before rain, are found mostly on trees and shrubs in many areas of South Africa. They are nocturnal and do not build webs or use silk to ensnare prey. Adults eat fairly large prey, including crickets, cockroaches and the odd gecko, sometimes doing nightly hunting on house walls near light sources.
The female Huntsman Spider
The female Huntsman Spider constructs a silken nest containing an egg sac which may contain as many as 800 eggs. The nest and young spiders are protected by mom until they start out on their own, at which point they eat any small insect they can find.
When confronted, a Huntsman Spider raises its front legs in the air in an attempt to scare off the danger. Unfortunately this behaviour leads people to think that the spider may jump on them and the perceived size of the spider often enlarges in proportion to the fear felt. As large as a dinner plate.
Truly! is frequently heard, but a really huge Huntsman Spiders leg span probably won't exceed 100 mm.
Are Huntsman Spiders dangerous to humans? Unlikely. According to experts the few reported bites were mostly without serious consequences, although one or two people had to get medical treatment for reactions such as breathing difficulties, nausea and chest pains. Since a spider bite can be a scary thing, it is sometimes difficult to separate panic attacks from the real symptoms of the spider bite.
Admire and respect the Large Huntsman Spider for the efficient
predator it is and enjoy the benefits it brings to your garden.
By: Esther van der Westhuizen
Published with permission of Chris Wilkinson Graemark