Bug Identifier
Woodlouse hunter spider
Community identification

Woodlouse hunter spider

Dysdera crocata

Order & Family
Araneae, Dysderidae
Size
Body about 10–15 mm long; legs extend the overall span.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.