Golden Huntsman Spider Juvenile Probable Male

Description

The Olios giganteus Golden Huntsman Spider is one of the largest US spiders. Like jumping spiders, they are not big webbers and rely on a sense of vision, touch, and agility to capture their prey.

This listing is for a juvenile spider, probable-male. I believe the pedipalps are jussst starting to lean male, as they reflect just a slight thickening (into eventual palpal bulbs). Legspan measures about 1.5 or so inches and they are currently feeding on blue bottle flies, or medium crickets or medium red runner roaches.

As adults, they are a golden-beige color and fuzzy, bulky and with a legspan that reaches an impressive 2.5 inches. They are disinclined to bite and likely not very venomous, though individual reactions to bites may vary. I’ve handled many and have seen others handle them and haven’t ever even seen them strike at a person though one person mentioned having been bitten, once.

They are wonderful climbers and like to sequester themselves away in a dark corner by day. At night they emerge to hunt and feed, although they will actively pursue their prey by day too.

(note: photo is of adult female)

 

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