It is the most common and widespread species in the genus Palystes . Redback spider. It is important to remember that spiders seen in South Africa are not bound by the territorial lines decided on by humans, therefore their distribution is subject to change. The genus Latrodectus was erected by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1805, for the species Latrodectus tredecimguttatus and Latrodectus mactans. They are a cream-white to pale yellow or reddish-brown with distinct black or dark mouth pieces. Its distribution ranges from KwaZulu-Natal province in the east, then westwards to the provinces of Mpumalanga , Limpopo , Gauteng and North West in the north, and Eastern Cape and Western Cape in the south. Classification: HARMLESS. [citation needed] They are also called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance.Larger species sometimes are referred to as wood spiders, because of their preference for woody places (forests, mine shafts, woodpiles, wooden shacks). These are free living spiders often found in plants and in houses where they build a silk sac under which they hide or lay eggs. South Africa is home to over 3,000 known species of spiders, many of which are found in our homes, gardens and natural surroundings. The spider of the month is this hedgehog spider (Pycnacantha sp. Inspect the area your child is playing in and make sure there are no visible signs of spiders or spider webs. South Africa has some 20 to 30 species of violin spider, members of the genus Loxosceles. He returned to hospital after a mosquito bite on his right buttock became infected. These large spiders are well known in South Africa for their magnificent golden webs. Philip says: February 26, 2014 at 7:15 pm. They generally have a broad profile, with the four pairs of legs clumped together helping them camouflage. Brown widows will be brown, tan, … 220 East Pier Road Female Phinda button spider with its purple egg sac. Commonly they are confused with baboon spiders … They are also called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. It's 6.45 am on Friday, here in sunny South Africa when my wife called me to see the biggest Rain Spider we have had in a long time. Throughout South Africa ranging from the KwaZulu-Natal (east); Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West (north); Western Cape, Easter Cape (south) Habitat : Scrublands and woodlands Common Predators : Pompilid wasp (that is known to paralyze the spider by stinging them), and birds Diet Here are a couple of important preventative tips for spider and spider bites in South Africa that parents can implement to protect their children against spider bites: Cape Town Helicopters Especially with South African ‘spider season’ being upon us with spiders and spider bites in South Africa increasing during the warm summer months, it’s more important than ever to be aware and prepared! The spider fits the exact same spider illustrated in this post, known to be an Scorpion Spider from South Africa. Larger species sometimes are referred to as wood spiders, because of their preference for woody places. The spider was found perching on a low branch of a karee tree, with one strand of silk attached to a leaf … Read more Selenopidae, also called wall crab spiders, wall spiders and flatties, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1897. Full Name: Crab Spider (Family Thomisidae) Other names: Krapspinnekop. Classification: HARMLESS. Welcome to the page that concentrates on arachnids from sub-Saharan Africa, that’s spiders, solifuges, harvestmen, pseudo-scorpions, whip spiders, scorpions, etc. It contains over 280 species in nine genera, of which Selenops is the most well-known. They all look similar, with their colour varying from grey to red-brown. Make sure your outhouses, garages, attics, windowsills, corners etc. The Spider Club of Southern Africa. Southern Africa has well over 2,200 known species of spiders with very few that are of medical importance. Remember, when a cytotoxic spider bites your child they might not feel any pain or be aware that it even happened. Latrodectus is a broadly distributed genus of spiders with several species that, together, are referred to as true widows.This group is composed of those often loosely called black widow spiders, brown widow spiders, and similar spiders. Titel: Field guide to spiders of South Africa Author: Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman Publisher: LAPA ISBN: 9780799369106 Buy Field guide to spiders of South Africa from Kalahari.com.. Did you know that on a weight basis spider silk is five times the strength of steel? South Africa is home to over 3,000 known species of spiders, many of which are found in our homes, gardens and natural surroundings. Salticids are small to medium spiders and in South Africa their sizes range between 1.5mm and 17mm with Hyllus treleaveni the largest in South Africa (and Africa). http://www.youtube.com/CrittaCamGiant Spiders and other Creepy Crawlies of South Africa freak Pete out. This is just how the setae around the clypeus in this specific specimen are arranged, … Read more, The spider of the month is this hedgehog spider (Pycnacantha sp. The violin spider belongs to the family Loxosceles and is known in other parts of the … The common rain spider (Palystes superciliosus), formerly P. natalius, is a species of huntsman spider native to Southern Africa. Little ones tend to run around and explore all sorts of hideaways and hard-to-reach spots, thereby putting them at an increased risk of getting bitten by a spider. RULES: Before we introduce this page, please note, we do not allow any pictures of suspected bites. 1 McDonalds Coffee Boost for UNIC Mini Crane. It is the most common and widespread species in the genus Palystes.Its distribution ranges from KwaZulu-Natal province in the east, then westwards to the provinces of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West in the north, and Eastern Cape and Western Cape in … This spider received 41% of the votes. The web is strong, and we have seen small birds trapped in the webs. The Greek myth about Arachne is probably attributed to one of these spiders. ; most likely P. tribulus) photographed by Marique Kirwan in the Schurveberg mountains, Gauteng, South Africa. Spiders and spider bites. These spiders are characterised by their large hairy bodies, pads on their feet and the distinct resemblance their 2 last segments on their legs have to that of a baboon’s fingers. ; most likely P. tribulus) photographed by Marique Kirwan in the Schurveberg mountains, Gauteng, South Africa. As part of a trade mission to further develop the use of UNIC mini spider cranes in the African mining industry, Spider Mini Cranes S.A. will be exhibiting in partnership…. Their common names include camel spider, wind scorpion, scorpion carrier, jerrymunglum, sun scorpion, and sun spider. This is Australia's answer to a black widow, the redback spider. +27 81 818 4225. South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, marked by several distinct ecosystems. Spiders found in South Africa include 19 unique species from confirmed sightings by contributing members of Spider ID. The common rain spider (Palystes superciliosus), formerly P. natalius, is a species of huntsman spider native to Southern Africa. Black Widow / Brown Widow: AKA Button Spider: Seek immediate medical care if your child: Put a cool wet cloth on the bite site to relieve swelling and pain, Develops any kind of rash following a spider bite, The bite site starts to show signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pain, pus), You suspect that your child has been bitten by a black widow spider and/or any other extremely venomous spider.