Heteropoda venatoria
| Heteropoda venatoria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Family: | Sparassidae |
| Genus: | Heteropoda |
| Species: | H. venatoria |
| Binomial name | |
| Heteropoda venatoria Linnaeus, 1767 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Heteropoda venatoria is a species of spider in the family Sparassidae, the huntsman spiders. It is native to the tropical regions of the world, and it is present in some subtropical areas as an introduced species. Its common names include giant crab spider and cane spider.[1]
Description
The adult has a flat, brown body 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 inch) long, 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) wide, including the legs. The female may be slightly larger than the male, particularly in the abdomen, but the male has longer legs and larger tips on its pedipalps. The clypeus, the area just behind the eyes, is cream or yellowish, and the carapace behind this has a wide band which is usually tan in the female and cream in the male. The body is not very hairy, but the legs have erectile setae, each of which is marked with a black dot.[1]
Biology
The female produces an egg sac up to about 2.5 centimeters wide and carries it with its pedipalps under its body.[2] Egg sacs are variable in size, usually containing over 100 eggs, with larger ones holding over 400. The spiderlings undergo their first molt while still in the sac.[2] In one small laboratory sample, the life span of the male averaged 465 days, and that of the female was 580 days.[2]
The spider feeds on insects, capturing them directly instead of spinning webs. It injects them with venom.[1] The venom of this spider contains the toxin HpTX2, a potassium channel blocker.[3] In some tropical areas the spider is considered a useful resident of households because of its efficient consumption of pest insects.[1] It commonly lives in houses and other structures such as barns and sheds, especially in areas that experience cold temperatures. It is sensitive to cold and can live outdoors only in warmer climates.[1]
Besides insects it has been known to prey on scorpions and bats.[2]
As part of its courtship behavior, the male produces a sound by vibrating its abdomen while keeping its feet firmly planted. This is faintly audible to humans as a "buzz" or "hum".[4]
The spider is not considered dangerous, but it does deliver enough venom to give a painful bite.[1][5]
Gallery
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Male
With egg sac
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Edwards, G. B. Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus) (Arachnida: Araneae: Sparassidae). EENY-160. Entomology and Nematology. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida IFAS. Published 2000, revised 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 Ross, J., et al. (1982). The life cycle of Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus) (Araneae: Heteropodidae). Psyche 89, 297-306.
- ↑ Bernard, C., et al. (2000). Solution structure of hpTX2, a toxin from Heteropoda venatoria spider that blocks Kv4.2 potassium channel. Protein Science 9(11), 2059-67.
- ↑ Rovner, J. S. (1980). Vibration in Heteropoda venatoria (Sparassidae): a third method of sound production in spiders. Journal of Arachnology 8, 193-200.
- ↑ Huntsman spider, Heteropoda venatoria. Natural History Museum. 2013.