Huntsman Spider
Scientific Name: Heteropoda venatoria (likely a species within the Sparassidae family)
Order & Family: Order: Araneae, Family: Sparassidae
Size: Leg spans can range from 2-5 inches (5-12.7 cm). Bodies are typically 0.7-1.8 inches (1.8-4.5 cm).
Natural Habitat
Found in warm and tropical regions worldwide. Often found in homes, sheds, garages, under rocks, bark, and foliage. They prefer sheltered, dark places during the day.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects like cockroaches, crickets, and other arthropods. They are ambush predators and actively hunt their prey, rather than building webs for capture.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and very fast. They are known for their 'crab-like' scuttling movement and can fit into surprisingly small spaces. They do not build extensive webs for catching prey, but may use silk for egg sacs or shelters. Females are known to be protective of their egg sacs.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Bites are generally not medically significant to humans, causing only localized pain, swelling, and sometimes nausea or headache. They are not considered dangerous. Benefits: They are beneficial predators, helping to control populations of household pests like cockroaches and other insects.
Identified on: 9/23/2025