Dysdera is a genus of woodlouse hunting spiders that was first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804.[2] They originated from Central Asia to Central Europe.
The family has gained many common names from their individual species, including the "European garden spider", the "slater-eating spider", the "sow-bug killer", the "woodlouse hunter", and the "woodlouse spider".[3]
A bite from one of these spiders can be painful due to their large fangs and wide jaw. It may leave an itchy, swollen, or red bump, but the venom from one of their bites is not harmful to humans.[3]
Adults have a reddish-brown body and legs, and can grow up to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long. Females are generally larger growing from 1.1 to 1.5 centimetres (0.43 to 0.59 in), while males are about 0.9 to 1 centimetre (0.35 to 0.39 in).[4] Their six eyes are close together in an oval shape, and they have eight reddish legs, the second pair facing backward.[3]
Dysdera live in natural shelters, which they wrap by totally white silk. The inhabitants of hot and humid forest will take any potential shelter on or close to the ground. The shelters are used to hide from predators as well as for keeping the spider warm. During the day, they are commonly found taking shelter under objects like gravel with organic material covering it, stones, bark, and occasionally in suburban gardens.[citation needed]
Dysdera are one of the few known arthropods to hunt and prey on woodlice, one of their main food sources. These spiders have wide jaws and large fangs to help to overcome the solid armor-like shells of woodlice. It makes them powerful predators for their size, allowing them to dominate or kill competitors, such as centipedes or other spiders. D. crocata is the only species from the Dysdera family known to prey on other spiders.[5]