Spiders

Sparassidae

Huntsmen Spiders

possibly Olios diana (Badge Spider) - Victoria, Australia - October 2010

Adult Huntsmen Spiders are generally nomadic hunters, hiding by day and emerging at night to actively search for prey.  Many are quite large (the above spider had a leg span of about 10cm) and its fearsome appearance led one species, Delena cancerides, to have a starring role in the horror film Arachnophobia.  In reality, however, there is little to fear from these spiders.  They are able to deliver a very painful bite, but will usually only do so if strongly provoked.  When disturbed the normal reaction of Huntsmen Spiders is to run away and hide.