Huntsman Spider
Crab-like flattened spiders that hide behind picture frames and run fast across walls.
Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda venatoria) is a Florida pest we rate as a low concern. For spider control in Florida's Treasure & Space Coast, Rhino Pest Management sends licensed (#JB242881) and insured technicians and backs the work with a free re-service guarantee; 5.0★ from 16 Google reviews. Free estimate: (772) 589-6842.
Photo: ja:user:Dieno (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
Flat-bodied, crab-like posture with legs splayed sideways, 25–30 mm body, tan-brown with a pale band across the head. Moves very fast in any direction. Does not build a web to catch prey.
Behind loose bark, in shipping containers (the main introduction pathway), inside garages and rooms, behind picture frames and under furniture. Often introduced into Florida homes inside tropical fruit boxes.
- Large flat brown spiders behind wall hangings, inside cabinets or on ceilings
- Fast-moving spiders appearing at night in garages or living areas
- Egg sacs — flat, papery discs guarded aggressively by the female
Huntsman spiders will bite if cornered but it causes only mild, short-lived pain. They are beneficial predators of cockroaches and other indoor pests. Their main nuisance is alarm and their size.
Is this urgent?
No. Huntsman Spider is a nuisance, not a threat to your health or your house. Most people fold it into a regular service visit rather than booking a special trip. If the numbers keep climbing after you've dealt with the moisture and food sources, that's when it's worth a call.
Rhino treats the interior and perimeter with a residual product that deters entry, and de-webs/removes egg sacs. Entry point sealing is the most effective long-term solution.
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Scientific source
For the biology behind this page, the University of Florida's IFAS Extension publishes a detailed Featured Creatures profile of this species — free to read, and written by entomologists in this state:
Pantropical Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus) — UF/IFAS Extension