Spiders · SWFL Pest Identifier
Huntsman Spider
Helpful — leave it This one works for you. No treatment needed.
How to identify it
- Very large, flat, long-legged — fits behind picture frames
- Legs angle forward like a crab
- Explosively fast when startled
Size
Large (1 inch +)
Where you'll see it
Garage / storage · Living areas · Attic / walls
Looks like
Spider
Did you know
A dedicated cockroach hunter — one huntsman on patrol is a roach’s worst night.
What it means for you
Terrifying-looking, essentially harmless, genuinely useful. The scream is optional.
Not sure this is your bug?
Text a photo and a licensed local tech will identify it for free — or run it through the interactive identifier.
Similar spiders in SWFL
Golden Silk Orb-weaver
Helpful — leave itBig yellow-and-silver spider in a huge wheel web across paths
Wolf Spider
Helpful — leave itNo web — hunts on the ground at speed
Brown Widow
Keep an eye on itTan-brown with an orange hourglass underneath
Southern Black Widow
Worth a pro lookGlossy jet black, red hourglass underneath
Dealing With This One?
Get a real price online in about 60 seconds — or text us a photo first and we'll tell you honestly whether it even needs treatment.