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Comments & ID Thoughts
We initially thought brown recluse but don’t see a violin and the coloring is a little different, but this guy moved slowly and gave me an awful feeling. We found it in our basement where we reside, where my children are always running around barefoot.
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Apr 1, 2019
- Photographed: Mar 31, 2019
- Spider: Dysdera crocata (Woodlouse Hunter)
- Location: Englewood, CO, Colorado, United States
- Spotted Indoors: Basement or Cellar
- Found in web?: No
- Attributes: Dorsal
Apr 25, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
Hi, this is Dysdera crocata, a Woodlouse Hunting Spider. They hunt pillbugs/rollie pollies/woodlice/sowbugs/other common names. Their fangs are curved and pointed toward each other. They are evolved to puncture through a rounded creature the size of your pinkie finger nail. The fangs can’t easily wrap around our flat skin and are only weakly capable of puncturing it. They are kind of ugly and look like the kind of insects they hunt – things that live in dark moist places- but they aren’t considered dangerous. A freak incident where you accidentally poke one with the tip of your pinky and wait… Read more »
Dysdera crocata (Roly-Poly, Pill-Bug, or Woodlouse Killer) are resident on my land. The are not a dangerous species, like Brown recluse, Hobo’s and Widows. However, they do possess powerful chelicerae (mouthparts) relative to their size and can inflict a painful bite if given the opportunity. While the venom is generally not of concern, the possibility of tetnus and staph are considerations. Left to their own devices, they are effective killers of their preferred prey (pill-bugs) and other vermin of similar size. Treating your basement ad family areas with a safer insect deterrent like peppermint oil formulations can help to discourage… Read more »