an example of a huntsman spider shown in detail

Huntsman Spider

Category:

Actual Size: 3 to 5” including legs

Characteristics: Flat maneuverable body, long spindly legs with black spots, and a black border that goes around the head.

Legs: 8

Habitat: Can be found indoors or out. Either way, huntsman spiders prefer to spend days hiding in dark areas and comes out at night to hunt. They cannot survive cold weather so will come inside for winter.

Habits:

  • No webs. They hunt and stalk wandering prey at nighttime.
  • Their diet consists mostly of smaller insects mostly, but larger huntsman spiders may pursue small reptiles or amphibians.
  • Also sometimes known as the crab spider or banana spider.

Huntsman Spiders in Georgia and Surrounding Areas

There are many different huntsman spider species around the world. In the United States, they can only be found in hot and humid climates like Georgia, although their range is spreading. Huntsman spiders run very fast. They use this speed to track down insects like cockroaches and anything they happen to find while wandering. They are not particularly venomous and biting humans is rare.

Huntsman Spider Habitat

Huntsman spiders like to spend their days in the dark where they’re unlikely to be found. At night, they emerge to search for food. They’re highly vulnerable to cold weather so most tend to die off during the winter, unless they make it indoors. Homes, barns, and sheds make good huntsman spider habitats. When they come indoors, they can sometimes be found under furniture or cabinets, behind pictures on the wall, and in closets and garages.

Huntsman Spider Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Huntsman spider bites are very painful. The good news is they are not very venomous. However, if symptoms linger or you experience an allergic reaction, you should seek medical attention. Huntsman spiders are not usually aggressive, but they can be quite large, so people find them frightening.

If you’re fed up with huntsman spiders in your home or business, good news. The experienced local spider control experts at Active Pest Control can help. Give us a call today to schedule a spider control appointment.

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