This is Heteropoda venatoria or more commonly known as the brown
huntsman, giant crab spider or the Laya. H. venatoria is a
cosmopolitan species introduced into and now occurring in the US in sub-tropical
areas of Florida, Texas and California. It is presumed to have been introduced
from Asia, where many of its closest relatives are found. It is sometimes
mistaken for a brown recluse spider Loxosceles reclusa and the Brazilian
Wandering spider Phoneutria nigriventer, but is neither related
nor is it dangerous.
H. venatoria are large brown spiders with a flattened body structure
and very little dorsal pattern, with adults having a body length of 2.2 - 2.8 cm
and have a leg span approximately of 7 - 12 cm.
These and similar species belonging to the taxonomic family Sparassidae are
highly valued in tropical countries because they capture and feed on cockroaches
and other domestic insect pests such as silverfish.
As with other vagrant species H. venatoria do not use webbing to
capture their prey.
This specimen arrived this morning (Sat 15th) from Fyffes plc, a fruit
ripening company with a large site based in Coventry. This individual seems to
have been transported from Florida.
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