Palystes belongs to the huntsman spider family indigenous to parts of the Pacific, Australia, India, and Africa. The Palystes genus has 22 species as per the existing records.
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.
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.
After being with their mother for about four weeks, they disperse to be on their own.
Belonging to the huntsman spider family, they do not build webs but hut for their prey.
They are harmless to humans, attacking when provoked, with their bite equivalent to a bee sting, causing swelling or a burning sensation that would last for a couple of days. Gardeners have often been a victim of the female Palystes, especially during the period when the latter are possessively protecting their egg sac.
| Other Names | Lizard-eating spiders, rain spiders |
| Lifespan | Approximately two years |
| Distribution | India, Australia, the Pacific region, and Africa |
| Habitat | Homes, gardens, woodpiles, mine shafts, tree barks |
| Common Predators | Pompilid wasps |
| Diet | Insects, geckoes and other spiders |
Image Credits: biodiversityexplorer.info
Palystes belongs to the huntsman spider family indigenous to parts of the Pacific, Australia, India, and Africa. The Palystes genus has 22 species as per the existing records.
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.
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.
After being with their mother for about four weeks, they disperse to be on their own.
Belonging to the huntsman spider family, they do not build webs but hut for their prey.
They are harmless to humans, attacking when provoked, with their bite equivalent to a bee sting, causing swelling or a burning sensation that would last for a couple of days. Gardeners have often been a victim of the female Palystes, especially during the period when the latter are possessively protecting their egg sac.
| Other Names | Lizard-eating spiders, rain spiders |
| Lifespan | Approximately two years |
| Distribution | India, Australia, the Pacific region, and Africa |
| Habitat | Homes, gardens, woodpiles, mine shafts, tree barks |
| Common Predators | Pompilid wasps |
| Diet | Insects, geckoes and other spiders |
Image Credits: biodiversityexplorer.info
Mumpi Ghosh on September 9, 2019.
Dr. Watuwa James
© 2023 (Spider Identifications). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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