
Community identification
Woodlouse Hunter Spider
Dysdera crocata
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Dysderidae
- Size
- 11-15 mm (body length)
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