Cane Spider

The cane spider is a species native to Hawaii and other tropical regions of the world. Cane spiders do not spin the web as other spiders do. The giant spider hunts by patiently waiting and jumping on unsuspecting prey like cockroaches and other insects. It is known by different names in various regions. Although the cane spider can deliver a painful venomous bite, it is not considered dangerous. 

Cane Spider Species, Types, and Scientific Name

Cane spider is the common name of a tropical spider species known by the scientific name Heteropoda venatoria. This spider species belongs to the family Sparassidae (the huntsman spiders). This group of spiders is known for their speed and active hunting lifestyle. The family has more than a thousand species, mostly found in temperate and tropical regions. 

Cane spiders are frequently found in sugar cane fields. Their common name is a reference to this habit. The species also has several other common names depending on the specific region. It’s called the brown huntsman, large brown spider, giant crab spider, and banana spider. In Bermuda, this species is mainly found indoors. People call them house spiders (the same name as the southern house spider). They may also be referred to as wolf spiders. 

Appearance: How To Identify Cane Spider

The cane spider is a giant arachnid with a flat hairy body and thin, long legs. They come in varying shades of brown coloration, including tan, dark brown, reddish brown, and grayish brown. Adults have a body length of roughly 0.8 to one inch and can be between 2.8 and four inches wide. Like most spider species, females are typically larger than males. However, males have longer legs and more robust pedipalps (the antennae-like appendage close to the spider’s mouth). 

The cane spider has eight eyes arranged in two rows on the front of its head. These eyes are its most distinctive feature. The portion right in front of the eyes, known as the clypeus, is white or yellowish. The spider’s carapace, located behind the eyes, has a wide band, typically brown in the female and white in the male.

Although they’re not very hairy, the spider has erectile setae (stiff hair-like structures) on its legs. Each of those setae has a dot of black pigment on it. Both males and females have thick, long legs, but males tend to have longer legs, while females have larger abdomens. 

Habitat — Where To Find Cane Spider

Like many other species of huntsman spiders, Heteropoda venatoria is native to tropical regions of the world. They’re prevalent in Hawaii, where they’re found on all Hawaiian Islands. The spider is also present in Australia and South America. In North America, cane spiders are present in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and California. 

Cane spiders are common in agricultural settings, particularly in sugar cane fields which is why they’re called cane spiders. They may also be found in banana and avocado plantations. Cane spiders cannot survive in temperatures that are too cold. Their flat body allows them to squeeze into warm crevices and tight spaces when the temperature drops. They may also enter homes where they hide behind picture frames, furniture, and other tight spaces. 

Evolution and History

Spiders have been evolving for at least 400 million years. The group’s ancestry can be traced back to a group of ancient arachnids that emerged from the water and adapted to life on the land about 380 million years ago. This means their existence predates the dinosaurs. 

The earliest spiders had thin waist and abdominal segments. Unlike modern spiders, whose spinnerets (silk-producing structure) were at the end of their abdomen, ancient spiders had spinnerets on their abdomen. The oldest fossil of a spider ever found dates back to the Devonian. 

The lifestyle of the earliest spiders is similar to that of present-day huntsman spiders like the cane spider. They were ground-dwelling predators feeding on cockroaches, silverfish, millipedes, and other primitive insects. Just like the cane spiders, these prehistoric spiders didn’t spin webs to catch prey. The silk they produced was mainly a protective covering for their eggs and to line their burrows. As time went by, the spiders evolved the ability to make trapdoors for catching prey. 

Diet — What Do Cane Spiders Eat?

Cane spiders are insectivorous. They prey on insects like butterflies, moths, silverfish, and cockroaches. Unlike other spider species that spin webs and wait for prey to get caught in them, cane spiders and other huntsman spiders hunt prey directly. 

The spider is nocturnal. It lies in wait or stalks prey to capture them. Once it captures prey, the spider injects venom into the prey and paralyzes it. In some tropical regions, people welcome cane spiders into their homes because of the arachnid’s ability to effectively control pest insects. Due to its large size and venom, this spider may also be able to prey on spiders and bats. 

What Eats Cane Spiders? 

Cane spiders have a few natural predators too. Their common predators include birds, large reptiles, and insectivorous rodents. The animal can also deliver a venomous sting to protect itself against predators. However, it is not very aggressive and is unlikely to attack humans or pets.  

Prevention — How To Get Rid of Cane Spider

Cane spiders are not only safe to have in the house, but they may also assist in reducing insect populations. They feed on unwanted insects that congregate in dark and obscure places throughout the home. They won’t leave a mess in your house like other spiders because they don’t spin webs. 

If you come into a cane spider tucked away in a quiet corner of your home, you might leave it there. However, if you wish to get rid of the cane spider because of allergies or other reasons, there are various options to try. You can set spider traps in high-traffic areas; these can be sticky glue traps or any other type of simple spider trap. Organic products such as peppermint oil may also repel this arachnid. You only need to add it to a spray bottle of water and then spritz it around. Store-bought insecticides may also be effective for getting rid of cane spiders. 

Related Animals 

• Clock Spider
• Crab Spider
• Banana Spider

1. Entomology & Nematology, Available here: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/spiders/giant_crab_spider.htm
2. Spider Identifications, Available here: https://spideridentifications.com/cane.html
3. Journeying the Globe, Available here: https://www.journeyingtheglobe.com/cane-spiders-how-big-are-they