Spiders are practically everywhere. They live on nearly every continent and are part of every common ecosystem imaginable. Spiders may look small and insignificant -- OK, and kinda creepy -- but they're important predators and prey for a multitude of other animals. As any horticulturalist can tell you, they're great garden allies, too.
Spiders are endemic to every continent except Antarctica. Some species are terrestrial, that is they live on the ground, while others are arboreal, meaning they live in trees. Beyond this distinction, they've also displayed a penchant for living in far-flung climates and habitats, from tropical forests to ice-cold caves. Some specialist species live in a combination of extreme conditions. Case in point, the Kauai cave spider, who lives in lava-tube habitats in Hawaii. While some spiders are social, most are solitary and interact with each other only to fight or mate.
The cane spider is known by different names in different regions, including brown huntsman, large brown spider, banana spider and giant crab spider. They're found in subtropical climates, and may have came to the U.S. as stowaways in banana shipments from Central America. They don't weave webs, instead stalking their prey, capturing and holding it with their large, powerful fangs.
Cane spiders are large, flat-bodied arachnids with two rows of eyes and long, hairy legs. Their bodies are about an inch long, with a leg span that reaches up to 5 inches wide. Cane spiders are brown, with a cream-colored band encircling the top of their backs, and black bands or spots on their legs. Male cane spiders have pale patches behind their eyes and longer legs than females, while females have larger abdomens.
Cane spiders are found in Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Southeast Asia, Australia and the Caribbean. They frequent sugar cane fields, avocado and banana groves and forests, hiding in tree holes and under bark. Cane spiders can't tolerate cold temperatures. Their flat bodies fit in tiny cracks, enabling them to find their way into homes, heated garages, outbuildings and greenhouses to keep warm.
Cane spiders breed year-round. After mating, the female spins a white egg sac surrounding approximately 200 eggs. She carries her egg sac under her body, causing her to be mostly immobile. In about three weeks, the mother tears open the egg sac and pale baby spiders emerge. The mother spider stays with the babies for several weeks after they hatch. The babies will molt several times during this period. Cane spiders live for more than 2 years.
Cane spiders are nocturnal, entering homes and hiding behind wall hangings and under furniture, coming out at night to hunt. They are found in cars, often behind sun visors, frightening humans with their large size. Cane spiders are reluctant biters, biting only if provoked. Their bites are small but painful. They do not produce enough venom to be dangerous to humans, but a headache may result. Some cultures welcome the cockroach-eating cane spiders into their homes.
ps. i hate them as well
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