Huntsman spiders are fast. Some of the fastest huntsman can cover 30-40 times their body length a second – up to 5m metres persecond for some of the biggest spiders.. This is around half the maximum speed of Usain Bolt!
Do huntsman spiders intentionally chase you? No. If you try to catch a huntsman and it runs towards you, it isn't attacking. It is trying to get to a safe place, away from the giant human thing looming over it.
The fastest spider is the giant house spider [warning: link goes to a photo of a gross spider], which can reach speeds of 1.73 feet per second. That's only about 1 mile per hour. We humans can easily run faster than that.
There are 94 described species of huntsman spider in Australia. The two back pairs of legs are shorter than the ones at the front and the legs fan out sideways enabling them to walk forwards and sideways often giving them a crab-like appearance.
Their most distinct feature is their long, hairy legs – unlike other spiders, their legs bend forward like those of a crab, and so they can move in any direction with great speed. In further evidence of their ability to make a quick getaway, many Huntsman spiders have flat bodies for hiding in narrow spaces.
Huntsman spiders are fast. Some of the fastest huntsman can cover 30-40 times their body length a second – up to 5m metres persecond for some of the biggest spiders.. This is around half the maximum speed of Usain Bolt!
Huntsmen spiders do not – repeat NOT – have any inclination whatsoever to creep their spidery, eight-legged crawl across your face while you're sleeping.
Use natural oils such as peppermint or citrus spray
Spiders dislike the scent of peppermint, eucalyptus oil, tea-tree, or citrus. Thus, regularly spraying them down likely entrances deters them from coming in. Simply fill a standard spray bottle with water. Then mix it with 15 to 20 drops of the essential oil.
Second, they are very smart. While the different species of huntsman spiders run at different speeds, the fastest among them run at rates comparable to Olympic sprinters, while the slower among them still run at speeds similar to a reasonably fit human's running speed.
However, you don't actually need to kill them! Huntsmen are quite beneficial spiders in many ways. Apart from being mainly harmless to humans, they're very fond of eating other creepy crawlies that we don't like having around the house – such as cockroaches, mosquitoes and flies.
Researchers from the University of California Merced and the California Academy of Sciences have found that flattie spiders — from the spider family Selenopidae — make the fastest leg-driven turn of any land animal on the planet.
Spiders are scared of almost everything.
But spiders avoid almost everything, so it isn't a big leap to say that they are afraid. Keep in mind that many spiders have poor eyesight and rely on their other senses to find food and detect danger.
Like most animals, spiders have circadian rhythms. These internal clocks tell the spider when to rest. Just like other animals, some spiders rest at night while others rest during the day. “They all go through some type of lower activity period.
These spiders are venomous but have very mild venom which is not considered dangerous to humans. Most are very reluctant to bite, and will attempt to run away from any threats they encounter. Contrary to popular belief, huntsman spiders do not chase people. They do not see like we do, and cannot see us from a distance.
Huntsman spiders can live for up to two years. As they can move very quickly, instead of using a broom or an object they can run along to move them, try to slowly and gently place a container over them and push a piece of paper underneath. You can now carry them safely outside to release them.
Is It Safe To Handle A Huntsman Spider? It is not advised to handle any wild or unknown spider. You should not pick them up or trample on them with your bare feet. If you threaten them by picking them up or treading on them, they will bite you.
Dr Harvey said they may be attracted to moths found around lights this time of year. "Huntsman spiders hunt and eat insects," he said. "They mostly like to catch moths. Often they're found around houses as we have lights on, which can attract moths."
Despite their often large and hairy appearance, huntsman spiders are not considered to be dangerous spiders. As with most spiders, they do possess venom, and a bite may cause some ill effects. However, they are quite reluctant to bite, and will usually try to run away rather than be aggressive.
Sound production in mating rituals
Males of Heteropoda venatoria, one of the huntsman spiders that seems to easily find its way around the world, have recently been found to deliberately make a substrate-borne sound when they detect a chemical (pheromone) left by a nearby female of their species.
Simon Lockrey, industrial design research fellow and former vacuum cleaner design engineer: It certainly could, depending on the vacuum cleaner. If there is a clear way out, the huntsman could make its escape when the vacuum is turned off.
During the day, most huntsman spiders prefer to retreat in protected areas, like under rocks and the bark of trees. Although, most people encounter these spiders at home and in their car, whether it be inside a curtain ripple or the back of their car sun visor.
If you're the sensitive type who finds scented insect sprays a little heavy on the nose, Mortein Kill & Protect Odourless Crawling Insect Killer will do the trick.
It is wise to check around your house from for huntsman spiders egg sac, whilst usually these would be produced outside, they can be found in many Australian houses.
All huntsman spiders are active at night, emerging from their retreats to forage for insects and other invertebrates, and occasionally small vertebrates. They are ambush predators, generally sitting and waiting for prey to come close before running and leaping on it.
While spiders keep away from light, preferring dark places, most insects they feed on are attracted to light. With dark colors, you'll discourage the bugs that spiders eat. It also helps to keep your outdoor lights off.