
Community identification
Woodlouse hunter spider
Dysdera crocata
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Dysderidae
- Size
- Body about 10–15 mm long; legs extend the overall span.
Natural Habitat
Often found in gardens, under stones and logs, and in damp indoor spaces such as basements.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily hunts woodlice (pill bugs), using its large fangs to pierce their hard outer covering.
Behavior Patterns
A nocturnal ground hunter that does not build a prey-catching web; it hides by day and makes a silken retreat.
Risks & Benefits
May bite if handled, causing localized pain and redness, but is not considered medically dangerous. It helps control woodlice.