Avondale Spider
While the Avondale Spider is harmless to humans, it has been known to give a fright to unsuspecting persons who happened upon its nesting site.
Because the flat huntsman arachnid is a social species, it is often found in groups numbering as many as three hundred. That many of the creatures in one place at the same time can be a bit disconcerting to the human eye. They often live underneath rocks, woodpiles or in loose bark and can create quite a site, scurrying to and fro when disturbed.
 |
Unlike many spiders that spin webs and wait for prey to come along and get tangled in the sticky trap, the Avondale chooses to hunt for dinner. They do not have venom, making them no threat for larger organisms. Also unlike many other spiders, this species prefers the outdoors and rarely ventures inside homes.
Its body may be as long as thirty millimeters and its light brown body is covered in thickly grouped fine hairs. The legs, like the body, are also covered in the fine hairs. The appendages can span as much as eight inches in large females, and these larger individuals are common within the species.
The arachnid is nocturnal, preferring to pass away the days hiding out in dry, dark places. Though they do not go inside often, when they do venture inside they can usually be found in attics or in sheds and garages.
