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Where do rain spiders come from?
The common rain spider (Palystes superciliosus), formerly P. natalius, is a species of huntsman spider native to Southern Africa. It is the most common and widespread species in the genus Palystes.
How many babies do rain spiders have?
Many a gardener has been bitten by a protective Palystes mother. After about 21 days, the spiderlings chew their way out of the sac to join the world. These egg sacs are a common sight from about November to April. Mating takes place in early summer and the spider will produce about 3 egg cases in her 2 year life.
Where do rain spiders lay eggs?
These sacs are about 2.3-3.9 in (60-100 mm) in size. The weaving of these egg sacs made of silk with twigs and the laying of eggs takes about three to five hours. The eggs hatch inside the protected layer of twigs and leaves woven by the female.
Are Huntsman spiders native to Australia?
It is estimated that 155 huntsman spider species are found throughout Australia. Of those, approximately 95 species are found only in Australia. All of these are probably descended from a single common ancestor that immigrated from Papua New Guinea or elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
What attracts rain spiders in the house?
They are attracted to warm, dark and small spaces like wall cracks, corners, air vents and in the eaves of your home. They are also most likely to enter your house in the autumn in search of a warm place to spend the winter.
How do you stop rain spiders?
Surround your home with sevin dust. This needs to be put around the foundation of your home. You want to do it when there hasn’t been rain in two days and you don’t expect any in the next few days. This will keep the dust around your home and prevent any spiders from entering.
Do rain spiders have stripes?
These large spiders are often found in houses, especially when it rains. They can be found curled in the corner of the ceiling or in the folds of the curtain. They are brown in colour, with white and black bands on the underside of the legs.
How do you keep rain spiders away?
To discourage rain spiders from entering the house, spray windows, doors and bricks with an insect spray or citronella. “Teach your children to react slowly around it,” said Leroy, who believed this would encourage children to become interested and not just squash them on sight.
How do rain spiders eat?
This large eight-legged hunter forages for his food, seeking out his prey – crickets, cockroaches, lizards, moths, geckos and other large insects. The baby spiders eat flightless fruit-flies and pin-head crickets. ll be encouraging the rain spider.
Where does Palystes castaneus live in South Africa?
Palystes castaneus. Palystes castaneus is a species of huntsman spider found in South Africa. It is common from Cape Town to Heidelberg, Western Cape, especially in forested areas. In scrub outside forested areas, it is replaced by Palystes superciliosus. It occurs mainly on plants, where it hunts insects.
Where does Palystes superciliosus live in Africa?
Palystes superciliosus is the most common and widespread species of the genus and ranges from Kwazulu-Natal westwards to Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, Eastern and Western Cape. Cayton-Boxall, P. 1988.
What kind of wasp stings Palystes castaneus spiders?
P. castaneus (and other Palystes spiders) are also commonly seen paralysed, being dragged by a large wasp called a Pompilid wasp. Sometimes the wasp will not be present. Pompilid wasps only hunt spiders, which they paralyse by stinging them.
Where does Palystes stuarti live in South Africa?
Palystes stuarti only known from Nieuwoudtville (Northern Cape). 24-34 mm. Palystes superciliosus is the most common and widespread species of the genus and ranges from Kwazulu-Natal westwards to Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, Eastern and Western Cape.