S04 · Spider
Huntsman Spider
Sparassidae
Big, fast and scary-looking — but harmless and actually useful. Eats cockroaches and other pests.
- Size
- Up to 160 mm leg-span
- Habitat
- Tree bark, walls, ceilings, behind sun visors
- Activity
- Year-round, nocturnal
Overview
Huntsmans are not aggressive and their bite is medically insignificant — usually a sharp pinch with mild swelling. They don't build webs; they hunt at night and rest flat against walls or under bark by day. Best treated as free pest control: relocate, don't kill.
How to identify
- Large flattened body, long crab-like legs held sideways
- Brown, grey or mottled — blends with bark and timber
- Moves fast and sideways
- No web; sits flat against vertical surfaces
Pro Tip
A huntsman in your garage is eating cockroaches for free. Consider letting it stay.
General guidance only. Information on Home Pest Defence is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. For termites, venomous spider bites, wasp nests in walls, or protected wildlife, contact a licensed pest controller, your GP, or the relevant state wildlife authority. In emergencies call 000; for poisoning call 13 11 26.