Palystes

Have you ever heard of Palystes? It’s a special kind of spider found in places like the Pacific, Australia, India, and Africa. There are 22 different types of Palystes spiders. Keep reading, and we’ll share some interesting facts about them with you.

Scientific Classification

Palystes Spider

Spiders Belonging To This Genus

  • Palystes ansiedippenaarae
  • Palystes castaneus
  • Palystes convexus
  • Palystes crawshayi
  • Palystes ellioti
  • Palystes flavidus
  • Palystes fornasinii
  • Palystes hoehneli
  • Palystes johnstoni
  • Palystes karooensis
  • Palystes kreutzmanni
  • Palystes leppanae
  • Palystes leroyorum
  • Palystes lunatus
  • Palystes martinfilmeri
  • Palystes perornatus
  • Palystes pinnotheres
  • Palystes reticulatus
  • Palystes spiralis
  • Palystes stilleri
  • Palystes stuarti
  • Rain (Palystes superciliosus)

Palystes Superciliosus

Physical Description & Identification

Adults

  • Size: They are big, being 15 mm to 36 mm (0.59 inches to 1.41 inches) long.
  • Color: The spiders of this genus have a velvety appearance with a brown or tan body. The undersides of their have bands of color.
  • Other Characteristic Features: A big moustachial stripe extends below their front eyes to their fangs.

Eggs

The eggs remain in a round silken sac having a length between 60 and 100mm (2.36 inches to 3.93 inches), which is intently guarded by the females until the spiderlings hatch.

Palystes Castaneus Egg Sac

Spiderlings

After being with their mother for about four weeks, they disperse to be on their own.

The Web

Belonging to the huntsman spider family, they do not build webs but huts for their prey.

Are Palystes Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Palystes spiders are venomous. But their venom isn’t harmful to humans. It’s mostly used to catch their prey.

Can Palystes Spiders Bite?

Yes, Palystes spiders can bite. However, their bites are usually not dangerous to humans and might feel like a bee sting. Gardeners have often been a victim of the female Palystes, especially during the period when the latter are possessively protecting their egg sacs.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Palystes Spider

Palystes spiders serve a critical ecological function by regulating the populations of their prey, which includes insects and geckos. Their hunting strategy, which does not rely on webs, allows them to control pests actively, providing a natural balance in their habitats.

Natural Predators: Despite their size and hunting skills, Palystes spiders are preyed upon by pompilid wasps, among other predators. These wasps paralyze the spiders and use them as living food sources for their larvae, illustrating the intricate relationships within ecosystems.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: The existence of Palystes spiders within their environment is a classic example of the complex food web dynamics. They keep insect and small lizard populations in check, while they themselves are a source of nourishment for their natural predators.

Relationship with Humans: Palystes spiders are generally not harmful to humans, with their bites likened to a bee sting. However, they can be a concern for gardeners, particularly when females are protectively guarding their egg sacs. Despite this, they are often considered beneficial due to their pest control attributes.

Palystes Image

Quick Facts

Other Names Lizard-eating spiders, rain spiders
LifespanApproximately two years
Distribution India, Australia, the Pacific region, and Africa
HabitatHomes, gardens, woodpiles, mine shafts, tree barks
Common Predators Pompilid wasps
Diet Insects, geckoes, and other spiders

Did You Know

  • The name Palystes means wrestler, derived from the Greek or Latin words palaistes or palaestes, respectively.
  • Ludwig Carl Christian Koch described this genus in 1875 for the first time,
  • Palystes superciliosus or the Common rain spider indigenous to South Africa is the most popular species of this genus.

In summary, the Palystes spiders are a formidable presence in their ecosystems, playing a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature.

Have you ever heard of Palystes? It’s a special kind of spider found in places like the Pacific, Australia, India, and Africa. There are 22 different types of Palystes spiders. Keep reading, and we’ll share some interesting facts about them with you.

Palystes Spider

Spiders Belonging To This Genus

  • Palystes ansiedippenaarae
  • Palystes castaneus
  • Palystes convexus
  • Palystes crawshayi
  • Palystes ellioti
  • Palystes flavidus
  • Palystes fornasinii
  • Palystes hoehneli
  • Palystes johnstoni
  • Palystes karooensis
  • Palystes kreutzmanni
  • Palystes leppanae
  • Palystes leroyorum
  • Palystes lunatus
  • Palystes martinfilmeri
  • Palystes perornatus
  • Palystes pinnotheres
  • Palystes reticulatus
  • Palystes spiralis
  • Palystes stilleri
  • Palystes stuarti
  • Rain (Palystes superciliosus)

Palystes Superciliosus

Physical Description & Identification

Adults

  • Size: They are big, being 15 mm to 36 mm (0.59 inches to 1.41 inches) long.
  • Color: The spiders of this genus have a velvety appearance with a brown or tan body. The undersides of their have bands of color.
  • Other Characteristic Features: A big moustachial stripe extends below their front eyes to their fangs.

Eggs

The eggs remain in a round silken sac having a length between 60 and 100mm (2.36 inches to 3.93 inches), which is intently guarded by the females until the spiderlings hatch.

Palystes Castaneus Egg Sac

Spiderlings

After being with their mother for about four weeks, they disperse to be on their own.

The Web

Belonging to the huntsman spider family, they do not build webs but huts for their prey.

Are Palystes Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Palystes spiders are venomous. But their venom isn’t harmful to humans. It’s mostly used to catch their prey.

Can Palystes Spiders Bite?

Yes, Palystes spiders can bite. However, their bites are usually not dangerous to humans and might feel like a bee sting. Gardeners have often been a victim of the female Palystes, especially during the period when the latter are possessively protecting their egg sacs.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Palystes Spider

Palystes spiders serve a critical ecological function by regulating the populations of their prey, which includes insects and geckos. Their hunting strategy, which does not rely on webs, allows them to control pests actively, providing a natural balance in their habitats.

Natural Predators: Despite their size and hunting skills, Palystes spiders are preyed upon by pompilid wasps, among other predators. These wasps paralyze the spiders and use them as living food sources for their larvae, illustrating the intricate relationships within ecosystems.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: The existence of Palystes spiders within their environment is a classic example of the complex food web dynamics. They keep insect and small lizard populations in check, while they themselves are a source of nourishment for their natural predators.

Relationship with Humans: Palystes spiders are generally not harmful to humans, with their bites likened to a bee sting. However, they can be a concern for gardeners, particularly when females are protectively guarding their egg sacs. Despite this, they are often considered beneficial due to their pest control attributes.

Palystes Image

Quick Facts

Other Names Lizard-eating spiders, rain spiders
LifespanApproximately two years
Distribution India, Australia, the Pacific region, and Africa
HabitatHomes, gardens, woodpiles, mine shafts, tree barks
Common Predators Pompilid wasps
Diet Insects, geckoes, and other spiders

Did You Know

  • The name Palystes means wrestler, derived from the Greek or Latin words palaistes or palaestes, respectively.
  • Ludwig Carl Christian Koch described this genus in 1875 for the first time,
  • Palystes superciliosus or the Common rain spider indigenous to South Africa is the most popular species of this genus.

In summary, the Palystes spiders are a formidable presence in their ecosystems, playing a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature.