If you don't like them "bugs", let alone spiders, see the dysdera crocata in your garden or in your orchard can give you a hard time. But you shouldn't worry, because we are dealing with an arachnid that is quite harmless.
It is true that its appearance conveys a certain image of danger, because the red color of its shell makes us not trust it very much. But it is a species that does not cause damage to plants, in fact, it can become an ally so that your garden or your plants are more beautiful than ever, because it eats some of its predators.
Characteristics of dysdera crocata
Also known as red huntsman spider, is one of the most common species in gardens, and also in orchards, because it loves to live in humid places. So that you can know if you are facing this variety or another, pay attention to its identifying elements.
- Size. Compared to other common spiders, this one can be a bit larger, reaching up to 15mm in length on its body and up to 25mm in length on its legs.
- Colour. The most significant thing about this arachnid is that it has an orange-red color that can be quite intense. Precisely for this reason, it is easier for us to see it than other spiders that also live among our plants.
- Body shape. If you take time to take a good look at it, you will see that it resembles a small crab in shape. Hence, it is also known in some places as a crab spider. It has a rounded abdomen and the carapace is concave.
Where can we find this spider?
The habitat of the dysdera crocata is usually dark and humid. So it is common to find it in basements, cellars, and also in gardens and orchards. Do not think that you are going to get rid of it if you have an urban garden or some pots on your terrace in a big city, because this arthropod has adapted to living in very different environments and does not mind leading a more urban life.
What is rare is to directly meet this spider, because usually remains hidden. If you see her, it is because she has detected before that she is close to some of her prey and has gone hunting. Although you can also find it when moving some pots, since it is not strange that it hides between them.
Perhaps this spider scares you, but you also scare her, so she prefers to go as unnoticed as possible.
Can dysdera crocata bite you?
One of the physical features that makes this spider so unpleasant to look at for most people is that it has two big fangs (in proportion to its size). For this reason, we all think about the possibility of being bitten.
A priori, the red hunting spider will run away if it sees you, but it is possible that it will bite you if it ever feels scared or cornered. its sting carries poison, as it happens with all arachnids, but this does not affect humans. At most, you may feel some small discomfort and some itching, almost as if you had been bitten by a mosquito. You also don't have to worry if it bites some of your pets.
A spider that is not bad for your garden or orchard
Spiders like to live in gardens and orchards because they know that that is where the insects that constitute their food source are. The problem with some of them is that they feed on insects that are beneficial to our plants. That is to say, although they do not directly affect the species that we have in the garden, their action can alter the ecosystem and affect issues such as pollination.
There is a type of spider, the white spider, which can quickly become a pest and does directly affect vegetation, because it feeds on plant cells. But in reality, this is not a spider, but a mite.
As far as the dysdera crocata is concerned, you should not worry if you see it in your garden or in your orchard, because it will not eat your plants. It will not eat insects that are beneficial for them either.
this arachnid does not create webs to hunt its prey. If you remember the beginning of this article, we told you that it is also known as the red hunting spider, and this is not a random name. It is an arthropod that actively hunts. That is, it stalks and attacks its prey.
Let's focus again on his appearance. The dysdera spider has large fangs, and this is no coincidence. It has them to be able to hunt its prey, which are ball bugs and sowbugs. Animals that have a hard shell and that the fangs of this arachnid can easily penetrate.
It turns out that neither boll bugs nor mealybugs are good for your garden, especially if they start to become a pest. For this reason, this spider can be a good ally, because it will take care of eating them.
Yes, his appearance is not pretty. Not what you want to find when moving a pot or checking the leaves of your crops, but dysdera is more beneficial than harmful. He usually sleeps during the day, so it's rare for us to let's cross with her. And at night she is busy looking for prey and feeding, so she won't bother us at all.
Spiders may not have a very good reputation, but there are varieties that are harmless and, in addition, they can help us to ensure that our plants are well cared for and safe from species that want to eat them. Dysdera crocata is a good example of this. Therefore, if you see it in your garden, it is best to ignore it and let it do its job. Did you know this spider? Tell us in the comments if you've ever seen it.