Huntsman spider

Description:

Holconia montana has a flattened body with long legs that point forwards. The abdomen is grey-brown coloured with varying patterns. Sometimes the legs have dark bands. Males are smaller than the females with a body size up to 3 cm, while females have a body size up to 5 cm. These brown or grey huntsmen are the ones most commonly found in houses, where they hunt at night on walls and ceilings. They also occasionally enter vehicles, causing much alarm. In the bush, Holconia species can be found sheltering during the day beneath the loose bark of eucalypts. They are large spiders and, when alarmed, are capable of moving sideways very rapidly. Food consists of insects and other invertebrates. Their flat, oval egg sac is constructed of white papery silk. It is most commonly deposited beneath the bark of trees. The lifespan of these spiders is about two years.

Habitat:

Under bark in woodland and dry sclerophyll forests, often inside houses and cars.

Notes:

Spotted in a backyard in Melbourne, Australia.