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PESTS:
HUNTSMAN
SPIDERS
 Where
do you find them?
There
are five types of huntsman spiders. The
Common, Banded, Badge or Shield, Tropical
or Brown and Flat Huntsman. They are found
all over Australia in rock crevices, under
bark, rocks, logs and as with some
species, in burrows both with and without
trapdoors. Social Huntsman species can
often be found in groups under bark on
dead trees and stumps. Huntsman spiders of
all species often enter houses and cars
where they like to find places to hide
such as behind sun visors.
What
do they look like?
- They
are large (often up to 15cm across)
with long legs.
- The
body colouring is drab grey or brown,
sometimes with banded legs.
- Some
species have legs that extend forwards
in a crab-like fashion and flat bodies,
all to help them fit into narrow
spaces.
- The
Brown and Badge species do not have
flat bodies and the Badge Huntsman had
a body length of up to 2cm.
Habits
- They
mostly eat insects and other
invertebrates.
- They
have elaborate mating rituals but
unlike some types of spiders, the male
is safe from attack by the female.
Large groups of males and females often
live together.
- The
female builds a silken retreat in
foliage, moves into an abandoned cicada
burrow, or builds a burrow into which
she will place her egg sac. One species
carries her egg sac under her
body.
- The
female lays approximately 200 eggs
which she places into a partly formed
egg sac she has already attached to a
silken ground sheet. The ground sheet
is then used to complete the egg
sac.
- The
female places the sac in her ready
prepared spot and stands guard until
the spiderlings hatch. During this time
she does not eat, often becoming very
aggressive.
- The
female will I some cases tear the egg
sac in order to help the young
spiderlings emerge.
- Once
the spiderlings hatch, the mother
remains with them for several weeks.
Spiderlings are pale brown or green in
colour.
- Huntsman
spiders live for up to 2 years,
moulting several times during that
period.
Do
they bite?
- They
can bite, but the symptoms are usually
fairly minor, causing only local pain
and swelling. However, the Badge
Huntsman can give bites that cause
prolonged pain, headache, vomiting and
an irregular pulse.
- Wash
the wound with antiseptic and apply an
anaesthetic ointment or
ice-pack.
- Seed
medical attention should pain
persist.
Interesting
fact: Huntsman spiders have several
predators. These include birds, geckoes,
and parasitic nematode worms as well as
the larva of the wasp and egg parasites of
flies.
ALWAYS
TRY TO CATCH THE SPIDER RESPONSIBLE AND
KEEP IT FOR IDENTIFICATION
PURPOSES.
What kind of
spider is it?
Redback
Spider
| Brown
House
Spider
| White
Tailed
Spider
| Huntsman
Spider
| Mouse
Spider
| Wolf
Spider
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years' experience ... your peace of
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Total
Pest Solutions
PO
Box 2083, South Plympton
South Australia. 5038.
Phone 1800 503 394
(08) 8297 4981
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