Heteropoda venatoria, the pantropical huntsman spider, is a member of the running crab spider family Sparassidae. They are commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions around. This particular species is native to North America and is mostly found in the warmer States along the Gulf Coast as well as in California.
Commonly, they are also called giant crab spiders (not to be confused with the related giant crab spider Olios giganteus) and sometimes banana spiders. The latter name is not inspired by their appearance but because the spiders have been introduced to the United States on banana shipments. Despite their hunting behavior and their size, they are not medically significant spiders and are generally not dangerous for humans.
Quick Overview: Heteropoda venatoria – Pantropical huntsman Medically significant: No
Body size: 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 inch) long, including legs 3 to 5 inches (7-12 cm)
Main colors: Brown, Black, Yellowish/Cream
Range: Eastern United States
Web: No Web
Heteropoda venatoria Description
Pantropical huntsman spiders are large, mostly brown and tan spiders with long legs.
Their clypeus (front of the eyes) has a cream or yellowish color while their carapace (behind the eyes) has a wide band which is usually tan in the female and cream-colored in the male. The adult spiders have a flat, brown body and legs.
Male pantropical huntsman spiders are generally fairly easy to identify. They have a very dark, often black cephalothorax (head) with a cream-colored V-shape pointing towards the abdomen:
The female has a slightly larger abdomen than males and is less distinctively colored.
Size
Heteropoda Venetoria grows to an average length of 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 inch) long, 7 to 12 cm (3 to 5 inches) wide, including the legs.
Web
These spiders do not spin webs like other spiders. They catch their food by actively hunting their prey – as their common name suggests. Huntsman spiders are mostly active at night.
Heteropoda venatoria Spider bite
The bite of a pantropical huntsman spider is not normally dangerous but can be locally painful. These bites sometimes come with noticeable swelling that can last several hours. Due to the size and speed of the spider, bites to humans occur very rarely as the spider will either flee or be recognized due to their size by humans before it can bite.
Heteropoda venatoria Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Sparassidae
- Genus: Heteropoda
- Species: Heteropoda venatoria
Distribution of the pantropical huntsman spider in the USA
The pantropical huntsman spider is an introduced species to the United States but is commonly found in the Southern United States. It is especially common in the Gulf Coast States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas as well as in California
Find these guys on my walls or ceilings, usually up pretty high. Sometimes I find dead ones that my cats may have bullied to death. Leg span is roughly 4 or 5 inches. Don’t think they are poisonous but curious what these spider friends are all about.
Hello MK, thanks for getting in touch! This is some type of huntsman spider. It is most likely a Heteropoda venatoria, assuming it was found somewhere in the Gulf States or California.
Hello,
I only have a picture of the underside of the spider but I believe it is a huntsman, as it was very large. Any help in identifying is much appreciated.
Reside in the SF Bay Area
Hi, this large spider was found on my patio. I’m in central Arizona. Thank you!
Hi Kristen, this is a female pantropical huntsman spider: https://usaspiders.com/heteropoda-venatoria-pantropical-huntsman/
I am in south eastern Virginia, an app told me this spider is a pan tropical huntsman. I am questioning that because of my location. Your insight is appreciated.
Unsure of this spider, kind of looks like some kind of crab spider? Found in Pittsburgh, PA in Frick Park.
Hi Byron, this is a female pantropical huntsman spider (Heteropoda venatoria): https://usaspiders.com/heteropoda-venatoria-pantropical-huntsman/