hides in the dark corners of buildings
- Size
- Body: 1.5–2.5 cm
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years
- Diet
- Predatory: feeds on insects including cockroaches, flies and moths. Hunts at night using speed rather than webs. Does not build a web but actively pursues prey across walls and tree trunks.
- Habitat
- Under bark of dead trees, in rock piles, woodpiles and dark corners of buildings including garages, sheds and houses. Most common in Auckland region, particularly around Avondale.
- Range
- Mainly in upper North Island including Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Most common around Avondale but spreading to other regions of North Island.
- Endemism
- Native
- Main Threats
- None. This introduced species is well-established and faces no major threats in New Zealand. Often welcomed in homes for pest-control abilities, particularly against cockroaches.
- Population
- Introduced and locally common. Arrived from Australia in early 20th century, probably in shipments of timber or goods. Established in Auckland region and slowly spreading.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native huntsman spider, harmless to humans leave undisturbed
- Conservation Note
- Native spider; widespread in native forests and not subject to conservation assessment.
- Te Ao Māori
- The Avondale Spider has no Māori name because it is a recent arrival from Australia. It is named after the Auckland suburb where it was first collected. And where the famous movie spiders were found. Today it is the spider of the horror film. Famous around the world. Ignored in its own backyard.
You see it in the garage. The Avondale spider is the famous flat spider of the horror movie. It is a large, brown huntsman spider with long, crab-like legs that sprawl out to the sides. When threatened, it flattens its body against bark or wall. Making itself as hard to see as possible. Fast, skittish and completely harmless to humans. Despite its terrifying appearance. The stuff of nightmares, but gentle.
These spiders are social. Which is unusual for huntsmen. They live in large family groups under bark. With dozens of individuals sharing the same hiding place. Mothers guard their egg sacs. And young spiders stay with the group for months. Learning to hunt and hide together. This social behaviour is why they were perfect for the movie Arachnophobia. Filmmakers could collect hundreds from a single tree. And film them crawling together. A spider that likes company. A spider that acts like an insect.
Avondale spiders have a famous Hollywood story. In 1990, a film crew collected hundreds from a single tree in Avondale, Auckland. To use in the movie Arachnophobia. The spiders became international stars. And the species has been famous ever since. A spider from a suburban Auckland street. Immortalised on film. Scaring audiences worldwide.
To see an Avondale spider is to see a movie star. A flat, fast, harmless huntsman that lives under the bark. Waiting for its close-up. Named after the Auckland suburb where it was first collected. And where the famous movie spiders were found. A local legend. A global celebrity.
Under the bark of a dead tree, a dozen of them huddle together. Legs tangled. Bodies flat. A film crew could land tomorrow and collect another hundred. The same tree. The same species. The same flat, fast, harmless spiders.
And they would not care about the cameras. They never did.