Bug Identifier
Woodlouse Spider
Community identification

Woodlouse Spider

Dysdera crocata

Order & Family
Order: Araneae; Family: Dysderidae
Size
Males 9-10 mm; Females 11-15 mm (excluding legs)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found in damp, dark places under logs, rocks, bricks, and leaf litter; often near houses in gardens or basements.

Diet & Feeding

Specializes in eating woodlice (sowbugs/pillbugs), using elongated chelicerae to pierce their hard exoskeletons.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal hunter that does not spin webs for prey, instead wandering to find woodlice; they spend the day in silk retreats among debris.

Risks & Benefits

Beneficial as natural pest control for sowbug populations; their bite can be painful but is not considered medically significant to humans.