Olios giganteus
(Giant Crab Spider)

Picture ID 56543

Picture of Olios giganteus (Giant Crab Spider) - Male - Dorsal

Comments & ID Thoughts

I live in Arizona in Scottsdale and I found this spider crawling on my leg when I was sitting on my couch I never even felt it crawl up my foot or anything I just saw it and he was huge in person, I flicked it off my leg onto the carpet put a glass over it and then let him go outside, does anyone know what this spider is?

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BugmanDan

Hi. I don’t really see wolf spider here. For your location, this could be a juvenile giant crab spider, Olios species. Looks to have the typical dark mouth parts. compare here. https://bugguide.net/node/view/1578687/bgimage If this looks to be your little friend, they are a very harmless sort,they can bite if pressed against the skin. Most adults I have seen get near 3 inches across the legs. quick if spooked but played with quite a few when I was younger. I have a photo of one of these chilling on my thumb,a smaller juvenile, if I can find it,I will update here.… Read more »

TangledWeb

You have impressive self control to just flick something that size crawling on your leg. Thank you for not harming it!

BugmanDan

Well, thanks for respecting spiders, crawling on me, I would likely coax it onto my hand and take it outside,,provided it doesn’t spook, they can be easy to pick up.
This is a video with a giant house spider, but the technique works for a good number of spiders:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8TxkR0dejc
A different type of huntsman, but not much different catching them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r011GRdai8Q
I used to use a deli tray and paper trick til one spooked and bolted and broke a couple legs so doing this by hand since.

Additional Pictures

Picture of Olios giganteus (Giant Crab Spider) Enlarge Picture
Picture of Olios giganteus (Giant Crab Spider) Enlarge Picture
Picture of Olios giganteus (Giant Crab Spider) Enlarge Picture
Picture of Olios giganteus (Giant Crab Spider) - Ventral Enlarge Picture