Woodlouse Spider

"Eeeeeeewwweeeehhh!!!!!! A creepy looking spider. It looks really dangerous, kill it before it bites the kids or the dog!!!!!". If this is your reaction to the woodlouse spider, then you are wrong. These are commonly found in America. They live under logs, rocks or any warm and moist place. Let us go into the details of woodlouse spider information.

Woodlouse Spider Information
The woodlouse spider is an arachnid species that preys on woodlice. The following is the scientific classification of woodlouse spider.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Araneae
Order:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Dysderidae
Genus:	Dysdera
Species:	Dysdera crocata

Physical Characteristics
They have a dark red thorax and legs with a yellow brown abdomen. They have disproportionate and large chelicerae (jaws). The females spiders are 11 to 15 mm in length and the male spiders are 9 to 10 mm in length.

Behavioral Characteristics
They live close to areas where woodlice, also known as potato bugs, pill bugs, rolly-polly bugs, etc., are found. You can find them in your homes close to woodlice infestation. They spend the day time in a silk cocoon and come out at night to hunt. They do not use their webs for trapping prey. The main part of their diet consists of woodlice. They easily pierce through the tough exoskeleton of the woodlice with their large chelicerae.

The woodlouse spiders have a very aggressive mating ritual. Both the mating partners are at a risk of injury due to their large chelicerae in the heat of the moment. After mating, the female lays her eggs in a silk cocoon and is thought to look after her children.

Habitat and Range
They are found in and around buildings and debris. They are native to southern Europe and have been introduced to Japan, Australia and New Zealand and North and South America. It is very common to observe woodlouse spider in Colorado.

People are generally worried about the woodlouse spider bites and wonder if they are dangerous. Let us answer all the questions related to their bites and understand is woodlouse spider dangerous.

Are Woodlouse Spiders Poisonous
The most common worry among people spotting the arachnid is 'are woodlouse spiders poisonous'. They have a large jaw that is capable of biting humans when handled. The venom is not dangerous to humans. However, their bites are really painful and the venom may cause an allergic reaction in some people. Their bites are extremely rare and will bite only on provocation or danger. Many gardeners tend to welcome the woodlouse spiders as they tend to help them get rid of the woodlice pests in their gardens. If someone suffers from a bite, it should be reported to a doctor. And the answer to are woodlouse spiders poisonous is, that no they are not poisonous. You can read some information related to spider bite symptoms.

These are some woodlouse spider facts that shows they are not dangerous, but have a very painful bite. These spiders are known for their large jaws and have very soft underbelly. Do not rush in to kill the woodlouse the minute you spot one. You should exert some precautions to prevent a bite.