Although the Kloof is home to several large species of animal, it is also home to various types of smaller species, including numerous insect, spider and scorpion species. Not even mentioning the abundant bird life!
One of the more abundant spider species that call the Kloof home, are rain spiders – also known as huntsman spiders (Afr: jag spinnekop). They are fairly large spiders with very distinct colouration, especially on their underside. Rain spiders (as they are known in South Africa) take their name from the fact that they are most often found inside our homes before it starts to rain. Forget about the SABC weather report, these guys are hardly ever wrong!
Rain spiders do not spin webs like most other spider species; they are instead active hunters that will pursue prey. The only time they spin “webs” are when building nests. A rain spider nest looks like this - I bet you have seen quite a few of these before and never knew who made it?
Now for all practical reasons, rain spiders are perfectly harmless to us humans. People tend to fear them mainly because of their big size (these guys do get to be very large indeed!) and the fact that they so often wander into our homes. They also put up quite a show when provoked, raising their front legs and exposing their fangs, often running towards and attempting to bite anything brought close to them. Unfortunately, this usually ends in the poor spider simply being killed – either suffering a prolonged death by being sprayed with insecticide not made for anything nearly as large as a rain spider, or by simply being squashed. It is so sad that people in this day and age still do not realise that the rain spider means them no harm and if left alone will most likely find its own way out again, to where it will not be disturbed by lights and people. The most ironic thing is probably killing one of nature’s best pest controllers with the very insecticide that was meant for the rain spider’s natural prey?
If you do happen to find a rain spider in your home, what do you do? Well, easy. Usually just leaving it alone works pretty well and the spider will make its own way out again. If having the spider inside your home bugs you, taking it out is very simple. A large container and a poking instrument of sorts is all you need. Simply place the container in front of the spider and then gently poke its backside with your poking instrument. Now I have to add, these spiders are pretty aggressive, so if you are afraid of spiders rather get someone else to do it! Also, if possible take them out during the day – as they are nocturnal hunters they are almost inactive during the day and it makes taking them out a breeze. At night they tend to run around a bit. Once the spider is in your container (with a lid on preferably), take it out to remote spot in the garden with plenty of plant growth for the spider to hide in and release it. Or even better yet, release it in the Kloof if that would make you feel safer!
Spotting them in the Kloof itself is pretty hard; they are very well camouflaged and usually stay hidden during the day. The easiest way to find them is when they are nesting; the female will always be close to the nest guarding it. Also be on the lookout for outgrown, discarded skins, if there are a few skins in a small area, chances are the spider will be somewhere close by.
For more on rain spiders please see this Wikipedia article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider
The photos in the gallery below were all taken in homes that are next to the Kloof, but these spiders can be found almost anywhere.
Dis eintlik die onskadelikste spinnekop, maar die grootte maak dit nogal skrikwekkend.
Hulle sit gewoontlik op my gordyne, maar ons los hulle hulle raak gou weer weg, en pla niemand nie.
Moet asseblief nie enigeiets aan hulle doen nie, en los asseblief daardie blik gif, so n spinnekop vat ure voordat hy doodgaan, en dis so wreed.
Wys eerder vir jou kinders dit en verduidelik wat julle hier gelees het aan hulle.
Posted by jeannie | May 7, 2009, 7:43 AMcool website! Would like to visit sometime! Do you know of any website that will give me lots of info on the palyste cantaneus? Its really important that I get the right info!!
Posted by Sarah-Lee | August 8, 2009, 1:08 PMHi Sarah-Lee
Your best bet would probably be Wikipedia, there are various links to other resources under “References”.
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/arachnids/spiders/sparassidae/palystes.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider
Posted by admin | August 9, 2009, 11:44 AMHi
Can u just answer these questions for me please:
Is the rainspider poisonous to people, aspecially to 2year old children?
Do they bite?
Is it painfull when they bite?
Thanks Christina
Posted by Christina | March 12, 2010, 2:49 PMThanks for a lovely article promoting these wonderful spiders. I get so mad when uninformed/ scared people kill them. Two wonderful books to get: Spiderwatch in Southern Africa by Astri & John Leroy & Southern African Spiders (An Identification Guide) by Martin R. Filmer. I hope that more people will realise that they don’t have to go to the Kruger Park to see the big 5 but can look at the wonder of nature right in their own homes and gardens. Our garden is a haven for all sorts of gogas and spiders and we are blessed to photograph them and discover new creatures. Children love to go bug hunting so lets encourage the future generation to cherish our beautiful wild life.
Posted by Cindy | November 18, 2010, 10:22 AMHi Christina
They say that the rain spiders bite is no worse than a bee sting. If left alone they will not bite you. If you provoke them by trying to handle them especially when they are protecting their nest, you are more likely to get bitten.
Posted by Cindy | November 18, 2010, 10:30 AMAfter reading your method of catching a rain spider, I would like to share my method. I have caught and released many of these spiders over the years and I keep a large glass jar (old gherkin or pickled onoion jar) with holes poked in the lid for these occasions. Don’t scare the spider and gently lower the jar over it until it touches the legs, at which point it will retract it’s legs and hop into the jar. Colse the lid – done! Release it in a nice bushy area – no need to kill it. And keep the jar for next time.
Posted by Rob Jamieson | November 21, 2010, 12:52 PMWe have just found one in my mom’s garden, but we are not 100% sure if it is a Rain Spider. The nest is typical of a Rain Spider, but the spider it’s self has bright orange rings on the legs? Is it just a different type of Rain Spider or a different spider all together?
Posted by Gwen | December 3, 2010, 7:54 AMHave had the priveledge of being in contact with these spiders over the last 10 years,in Norkem Park SA.In my daughters garden.I recently captured one and do not know how to tell “male or female” I have it in a “spider home” and am teaching my grandchildren about the benifit of these and other creatures.I hope to instill in them less fear and consevation is the best way to go. I am almost not keen to let it go. As i am enjoying having it around. I need more info on how big they get and what food do they prefer..Thanks for your pictures and info so far.. It is good to educate people this way..Irene
Posted by IRENE MYBURGH | December 3, 2010, 11:19 AMJust discovered a large spiky spider nest in grape vine outside house in Strand…immediately found its duplicate on your site…Thankyou. Now I know they are well and healthy in my garden – they come inside from time to time and I long ago learned to move them using your method and my breath held till the spider drops into the container. Have added your site to my favourites.
Ann Ralston (Retired GP, senior citizen)
Posted by Ann Ralston | January 15, 2011, 6:08 PMThe jar method works perfectly. As it is see-through the spider does not see it coming, so will not jump or run when you put it over the spider. If the spider does not comply by jumping into the jar, I use a piece of paper to slide underneath the jar and spider. This usually does the job and once the spider is inside the jar you can close the lid and let the spider go outside.
Posted by jokevn | January 19, 2011, 11:00 AMMy 6 year old saw a wasp land on a rain spider and chased the wasp away.
The spider is paralysed, will the spider gain mobility.
Posted by Pauline | March 18, 2011, 3:39 PM@Pauline I did a quick search on the web and it seems that the spider will eventually regain mobility, but it could be many months, if at all! So the spider’s chances of survival would in my opinion be small. But I am no expert in the field!
Posted by admin | March 18, 2011, 3:50 PMStay in Krugersdorp in west rand find a massive one sitting on the roof in my passage when i got up sunday morning.
Do you found them al over South Africa or only in Pretoria area.
Caught it in a glass jar and released it into Garden. But Boy was he big!!!!
Posted by charl | March 21, 2011, 7:23 AM@Charl You get them throughout Africa, including all of Southern Africa. Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider for a more detailed distribution map.
Posted by admin | March 22, 2011, 9:15 AMOn 18 March posted about the spider that got paralysed by a wasp. The spider has been moving a bit and my son has given him a Cricket to eat which he is now eating. I think he might get through this ordeal.
Posted by Pauline | April 1, 2011, 8:12 AMI found a rain spider and fell I love on first site. I am an animal lover and actually want to keep it. I fed it a few times and actually want to see how big she gets. Do you think it is advisable keeping one in Johannesburg?
Posted by Selwyn | September 14, 2011, 11:40 AMRealy insite full! One of my best moments of the Huntsman spiders were in a friends garden. As the sun broke throw just after a cloud brust…a few drops fell onto their nest and it looked like something out of movie! All you could see were little spider running on the ground, it almost like a mini wave of spiders.
Yes, weather-man Pete has nothing on them, because I cought two last night and tonight it’s storming. The best way I found, was to use a glass to cover and a page or anything flate to slide it underneath and free them outside.
Posted by Pat | November 22, 2011, 10:23 PMReally insightful! One of my best moments of the Huntsman spiders were in a friends garden. As the sun broke through just after a cloud burst…a few drops fell onto their nest and it looked like something out of movie! All you could see were little spiders running on the ground, it’s almost like a mini wave of spiders.
Yes, weather-man Pete has nothing on them, because I caught two last night and tonight it’s storming. The best way I found, was to use a glass to cover and a page or anything flat to slide it underneath and free them outside.
Posted by Pat | November 23, 2011, 7:46 PMWe have just moved into Moreleta Village, and within a few days a beautiful rainspiders has built a nest amongst the plants. the babies have now hatched and she is guarding the nest. We have found another female and another nest , also with babies. I have taken photos of both. I am so proud of the spiders in my garden and out little grandchildren are learning a lot! Thanks for keeping us posted.
Posted by Anne_marie Joubert | December 11, 2011, 9:34 PMI had quite a scary experience with one of these big spiders, this particular one was very big (biggest one I’ve seen) it somehow crept into my skinny jeans I think when they were drying on the line. Not realizing it was in there I put them on, had them on for at least 10 minutes before realizing I had something in my jeans just above my ankle, I thought it may have been a sock so I put my hand up and grabbed this massive spider which was still alive!! Shame the poor thing must have been a little damaged cause it didn’t move too much but we put it outside after a screaming session that lasted about 5 minutes! Oh I did take some pics too cause I didn’t think anyone would believe me! I’m still getting the shivers just thinking about it!
Posted by Adrienne | December 30, 2011, 8:23 PMI recently caught a fairly large female, with a 110mm legspan, which we put in a 60cm fish tank with tight fitting lid (With breathing holes and a crew-top feed tube.
We have fed her a few geckos and other small damsel flies, which she eats with great enthusiasm.
I am personally quite scared of spiders, having suffered a terrible bite several years ago, but am quite fascinated by the size of this female, which I fear is nearing the end of her life cycle.
I decided to keep this one alive, rather than bestow my size 11 foot treatment, which many of her kin have previously suffered, in an attempt to give my 5 year old son an appreciation of these incredible creatures.
Great site, and some very funny comments!
Posted by Sub-Zero | January 29, 2012, 12:44 AMI had a big one sitting on my curtains one evening. While my daughter tried to catch it, it decideded to jump to another spot on the curtain. I got such a fright that I crawled on all fours over the bed an down the passage, I could not spare the time to get up and run. Needless to say that I had carpet burn on my knees and my friends thought it was the joke of the year. I am 63 three years old and are terrified of spiders. Just too many eyes watching you.
Posted by nela willers | March 2, 2012, 12:07 PMi recently found a rain spider at the bottom of the school swimming pool. after fishing it out, i realised that it had drowned. it did not move at all and i spent the first three lessons showing it all my students. about 4 hours later, it suddenly started to move around and when i moved the box it was in, it began to run around… can these spiders somehow breathe underwater?
Posted by tarryn | March 12, 2012, 11:01 AMI live in Bedfordview and in the rainy season we get quite a few of these spiders in the house. I use a cut-off 2 litre Coke bottle and slide a piece of cardboard under it after it’s in the bottle and then let it loose in the bushes.
I don’t kill them.
Posted by Derek | March 17, 2012, 7:53 PM