Bug Identifier
Woodlouse Hunter Spider
Community identification

Woodlouse Hunter Spider

Dysdera crocata

Order & Family
Araneae, Dysderidae
Size
11-15 mm (body length)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Under rocks, logs, and leaf litter in gardens and semi-rural areas

Diet & Feeding

Strictly carnivorous, specializing in woodlice (pill bugs) and other isopods

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal hunter that does not spin a web for prey, using its large chelicerae to pierce woodlice shells

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem by controlling woodlouse populations; its bite can be painful but is not medically significant to humans