Huntsman spiders live in Florida, having established a stable population in the state’s subtropical and tropical regions. These large arachnids belong to the family Sparassidae, known for their impressive size and remarkable speed when pursuing prey. Sometimes called giant crab spiders, their presence is common across the warmer parts of Florida. Their quick movements and tendency to appear unexpectedly often cause alarm due to their size.
The Huntsman Species Found in Florida
The primary species found in Florida is Heteropoda venatoria, often called the pantropical huntsman spider. This introduced, non-native species is believed to have arrived from Asia and established itself due to Florida’s warm, humid climate. Identifying an adult H. venatoria is straightforward due to its distinctive physical characteristics.
The adult spider’s body is typically brown and flattened, allowing it to fit into small cracks and crevices. While the body length is about one inch (2.2 to 2.8 cm), the leg span can stretch three to five inches (7 to 12 cm) across. The legs of both sexes feature distinct black spots marking the base of bristle-like hairs. Their legs are jointed to point forward, giving them a crab-like appearance and allowing them to move sideways.
Sexual dimorphism is noticeable. Females generally have a larger, more robust abdomen, while males possess longer legs relative to their body size. Males also exhibit a dark, longitudinal stripe on their abdomen and a light-bordered pale area behind their eyes. A defining feature for both is a cream or yellowish color on the clypeus, the area just in front of the eyes. Unlike many other spiders, the huntsman is not a web-builder.
Where They Live and How They Behave
Huntsman spiders thrive in Florida’s subtropical environment, especially in southern regions where freezing temperatures are rare. Outdoors, they seek shelter in dark, protected spaces such as under loose tree bark, in rock piles, and within woodpiles. Since they are cold-sensitive, they often migrate indoors to survive in areas that experience colder weather.
Their flattened body shape allows them to squeeze beneath doors, into wall voids, and behind furniture, leading to them being found inside homes, garages, and sheds. They are nocturnal hunters, emerging at night to actively pursue prey rather than waiting for it in a web. Their diet consists mainly of insects, particularly domestic pests like cockroaches, a behavior that makes them beneficial to humans.
These spiders use exceptional speed and strong mouthparts to capture and subdue prey. Their presence indoors is usually opportunistic, driven by the search for shelter from heat or rain, or the pursuit of a meal. Females carry a flattened, disc-like eggsac, which can contain over 200 eggs, tucked underneath their body.
Understanding the Bite and Danger Level
Despite their intimidating size and rapid movements, huntsman spiders are not considered medically significant to humans. They are shy and non-aggressive, preferring to flee quickly when they sense a threat. A bite is a defensive action that occurs almost exclusively when the spider is accidentally trapped, such as when a person tries to handle it or inadvertently presses against it.
The huntsman spider’s venom is not potent enough to endanger human health, and bites are typically limited to localized symptoms. A bite usually causes immediate pain due to the spider’s large fangs, followed by mild swelling, redness, and inflammation at the puncture site. The effects are temporary and often resolve with basic first aid, such as cleaning the wound and applying a cold pack. Severe allergic reactions are extremely rare, but anyone experiencing symptoms beyond localized pain should seek medical attention.