Dysdera genus belongs to the woodlouse spider family with 285 species, as recorded in May 2019.
Size: Female spiders of this genus are 0.43 – 0.59 inches (1.1 – 15 cm), while the comparatively smaller males have a length of 0.35 – 0.39 inches (0.9 – 1cm).
Color: The body and legs of most spiders appear reddish-brown alongside a white abdomen.
Other Characteristic Features: Of their eggs legs, the second pair face backwards. Their six eyes are closely fixed to one another in an oval pattern. These spiders are also noted for their large fangs and wide jaws that help them bite the hard shells of woodlice.
Females lay about 70 round eggs in a silken sac.
They have a pale brown body and start living on their own in a few days from hatching.
No spiders of this genus make webs, and hunt at night.
These spiders are not harmful or deadly to humans, but their bite is painful leading to swelling, redness, and itchiness.
| Distribution | Central Europe and North America |
| Habitat | Trees, garden, and bushy areas |
| Diet | Woodlice, centipedes, and also other spiders |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
The French Zoologist, Pierre André Latreille, described the genus in 1804 for the first time.
Image Credits: commons.wikimedia.org
Dysdera genus belongs to the woodlouse spider family with 285 species, as recorded in May 2019.
Size: Female spiders of this genus are 0.43 – 0.59 inches (1.1 – 15 cm), while the comparatively smaller males have a length of 0.35 – 0.39 inches (0.9 – 1cm).
Color: The body and legs of most spiders appear reddish-brown alongside a white abdomen.
Other Characteristic Features: Of their eggs legs, the second pair face backwards. Their six eyes are closely fixed to one another in an oval pattern. These spiders are also noted for their large fangs and wide jaws that help them bite the hard shells of woodlice.
Females lay about 70 round eggs in a silken sac.
They have a pale brown body and start living on their own in a few days from hatching.
No spiders of this genus make webs, and hunt at night.
These spiders are not harmful or deadly to humans, but their bite is painful leading to swelling, redness, and itchiness.
| Distribution | Central Europe and North America |
| Habitat | Trees, garden, and bushy areas |
| Diet | Woodlice, centipedes, and also other spiders |
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
The French Zoologist, Pierre André Latreille, described the genus in 1804 for the first time.
Image Credits: commons.wikimedia.org
Sahana Kanjilal on September 11, 2019.
Dr. Watuwa James
© 2023 (Spider Identifications). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Follow us on: 
