Huntsman Clutch Discovery
Hey everyone!
I’ve had this huntsman spider hanging out in the corner of our spare room for a few weeks now. I’m not bothered by spiders and don’t mind dusting off some webs, so I left her be. Today, while reaching for an old blender, I stumbled upon a freshly hatched clutch of baby spiders!
I decided to clear them out because the thought of a million tiny spiders crawling around seemed overwhelming. But I started to wonder—would they really have all survived? I’ve read that huntsman spiders can be territorial and may even eat each other. What are your thoughts?
Hi there!
It’s great that you’re understanding about having spiders around! Huntsman spiders do have some fascinating behaviors. You’re correct that they can exhibit territorial tendencies, which often results in them eating smaller or weaker individuals, including their own offspring. So while it’s possible that a large number of baby huntsman spiders could cause a bit of a chaotic scene, it’s also likely that many of them wouldn’t survive due to cannibalism or competition for food.
That said, if you’re okay with having spiders around, it might have been interesting to see how many made it without being cleared out. If you do end up noticing any huntsmen again, they could help keep other pest populations in check! Just a thought!