Brown huntsman spider

Brown huntsman spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Family:	Sparassidae
Genus:	Heteropoda
Species:	H. venatoria
Binomial name
Heteropoda venatoria Latreille, 1802
Synonyms
Aranea venatoria Aranea regia Aranea pallens Thomisus leucosius Micrommata setulosa Ocypete setulosa Olios leucosius Olios antillianus Olios freycineti Olios colombianus Ocypete pallens Olius setulosus Ocypete murina Ocypete draco Olios albifrons Olios javensis Olios gabonensis Olios zonatus Olios lunula Sparassus ammanita Ocypete bruneiceps Olios leucosius Olius regius Sarotes regius Helicops maderiana Sarotes venatorius Palystes maderianus Olios maderianus Heteropoda ferina H. regia H. ocellata Palystes ledleyi H. squamacea Sinopoda pengi H. shimen Sinopoda venatoria

The brown huntsman spider (also laya in some places), Heteropoda venatoria, is found in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, including Asia, some Mascarene and Caribbean islands, the southeastern US, and (especially) Australia. In Hawaii, where it was introduced, it is known as the cane spider. They are fairly large, some having a leg span of approximately five inches (13 centimetres). Although they are rather fearsome in appearance, they are very easily alarmed by the approach of humans and will very rapidly flee.

Heteropoda venatoria with cocoon

The female brown huntsman can be recognized by her stout body and the pillow-like egg sac that she often carries under her. The male typically has a slender body, longer and thinner legs, and a distinctive pattern on his carapace. Both male and female are reddish-brown to greyish-brown in color, and slightly hairy.

Brown huntsman spiders do not spin webs. These spiders are known to hunt by waiting quietly on a vertical surface (or even a ceiling) and then rushing forward when their prey gets within close range. Their exceptional agility and speed, as well as their ability to contort and squeeze through tight spaces, give them a strong advantage both in capturing prey and evading predators. They feed at night. Brown huntsmen are welcomed in some homes, as they feed on pests such as roaches and silverfish.

References

External links

• huntsman spider on the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Featured Creatures Web site