Spider infestation happens most often in spring, and almost always at night. If you have had this experience recently, you are not alone, and the spider in question is very likely a huntsman, one of the most common, most misunderstood, and least dangerous spiders in New South Wales.
This guide explains why huntsman spiders turn up indoors every spring across Sydney, what they actually look like, whether you need to worry, and the practical steps that keep them out of your living spaces.
Why huntsman spiders come indoors in spring
Huntsman spiders are around your Sydney home all year, you simply notice them more in spring. As temperatures climb from September onwards, three things happen at once.
First, it is mating season. Warmer weather sends male huntsman spiders roaming in search of females, and that wandering frequently takes them across fences, up brick walls, through weep holes and under doors into your home. Most large huntsman spiders that appear suddenly indoors in spring are roaming males.
Second, their food moves inside. Huntsman are ambush hunters that feed on cockroaches, crickets, moths, flies and mosquitoes. As insect activity surges in spring, spiders follow the prey, and a home with lights on at night is an insect magnet.
Third, Sydney’s environment suits them. Established gardens, timber decking, tiled roof voids, brick cavities and the leafy bark of gums and palms all give huntsman spiders ideal daytime shelter close to housing. In higher-density suburbs, construction and disturbed habitat push them toward buildings as well.
The reassuring part: their appearance indoors is about shelter and mating, not aggression. They are not seeking you out.
What does a huntsman spider look like?
A huntsman is built for speed and hiding, not for menace. Their features are:
- A flat, low-profile body that lets it squeeze behind picture frames, skirting boards and roof timbers
- Long, crab-like legs that bend forward and splay outward, giving a wide, sprawling stance
- A large leg span, commonly the size of a palm, and up to around 15 cm across in the biggest local species, even though the body itself rarely exceeds 2 cm
- Grey-to-brown colouring, often mottled or subtly banded, with a mostly smooth (not hairy) look
- A fast, sideways scuttle across walls and ceilings that is often what startles people most
In Sydney the species you are most likely to meet is the Sydney or giant banded huntsman (Holconia immanis), along with grey and badge huntsman. They do not build webs to catch prey, so if you have found a large spider running loose rather than sitting in a web, that is a strong huntsman clue.
“But it looks like a black spider.” Under artificial light, a grey-brown huntsman pressed against a pale wall can easily read as a big black spider, which is why so many worried Sydney searches begin there. The good news is that the spider most people genuinely fear, the Sydney funnel-web, looks and behaves quite differently.
Huntsman vs the Sydney funnel-web: Telling them apart
| Feature | Huntsman | Sydney funnel-web |
| Body shape | Flat, sprawling | Bulky, robust |
| Colour | Grey to brown, mottled | Glossy, shiny black |
| Legs | Long, crab-like, splayed sideways | Shorter, thicker, held under body |
| Where you’ll see it | Running across walls and ceilings | On the ground, in burrows, under logs |
| Movement | Very fast, sideways | Slower; rears up defensively if cornered |
| Climbing | Excellent climber | Cannot climb smooth surfaces well |
| Risk to humans | Not medically significant | Medically significant, treat seriously |
If a large dark spider is up on your wall or ceiling moving quickly, it is almost certainly a harmless huntsman. A funnel-web is a ground-dweller you are far more likely to find in a garden, a shed, or a pool skimmer box.
Are huntsman spiders dangerous?
For healthy people and pets, no. Huntsman venom is designed for small prey and is not considered medically significant to humans. Bites are uncommon because huntsman spiders are shy and would far rather flee than fight, they typically only bite if trapped against skin, squashed, or when a female is guarding her egg sac. When a bite does happen, it is usually comparable to a bee sting: localised pain, redness and mild swelling. There are no recorded deaths from a huntsman spider bite in Australia.
They are also genuinely useful. A resident huntsman quietly reduces the cockroaches, mosquitoes and moths in and around your home. Relocating one outdoors, rather than killing it, keeps that natural pest control working for you.
Good to know: If a bite causes anything beyond mild local symptoms, spreading swelling, difficulty breathing, or a reaction in a child, elderly person or someone with allergies, seek medical advice promptly. Severe reactions are rare but worth watching for.
How to keep huntsman spiders out of your home
Huntsman spiders don’t spin webs, so the goal is to block entry and remove the reasons they come inside:
- Seal the gaps: Fit weather strips under external doors, seal cracks around windows, skirting boards and where pipes enter walls, and check that weep holes and vents are screened
- Fix flyscreen: Intact screens on windows and doors stop both spiders and the insects they hunt
- Manage lighting: Outdoor and window lights draw the insects huntsman feed on. Use sensor or warm-toned globes, and close curtains at night in spring
- Trim the perimeter: Keep branches, palms and dense foliage from touching the house, and move firewood, bark mulch and clutter away from external walls
- Declutter storage: Garages, sheds and roof voids full of boxes give huntsman ideal daytime hiding spots
- Keep insects down inside: Fewer cockroaches and moths indoors means less reason for a spider to follow them in
What to do if you find a huntsman indoors
Stay calm, it is more frightened of you than the reverse. The simplest safe method is catch-and-release: place a large glass or container over the spider, slide a piece of stiff cardboard underneath, and carry it outside to a garden or fence line. Avoid squashing it; aside from being beneficial, a female may release spiderlings if crushed. If a huntsman spider keeps appearing in bedrooms or you would simply rather not handle them, that is a fair reason to call a professional.
When to call a Sydney pest professional
A one-off huntsman is normal spring behaviour. It is worth booking help when sightings are frequent, when a household member is highly anxious, when you manage a hospitality or food premises with a reputation to protect, or when you are genuinely concerned about spiders like funnel-webs or redbacks alongside them. A professional treatment sets up a protective barrier around entry points and reduces the insect prey that draws spiders in, rather than just removing one spider at a time.
Flick’s Sydney spider control team knows exactly how local conditions drive seasonal spider pressure, and can inspect your property, confirm the species and recommend the right programme. Flick has been protecting NSW homes and businesses since 1918.
Worried about a spider in your Sydney home? Book an inspection or call 1300 270 019.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are huntsman spiders poisonous or dangerous?
Huntsman have venom to subdue insect prey, but it is not medically significant to humans. A bite is uncommon and usually feels like a bee sting. They are not considered dangerous to healthy people or pets.
Q. Why are there suddenly so many huntsman spiders in spring?
Warmer weather triggers mating season, so roaming males wander indoors looking for females. Spring also brings a surge in the insects huntsman feed on, drawing spiders closer to homes.
Q. Is the big black spider on my wall a funnel-web?
Almost certainly not. Funnel-webs are glossy black, bulky and live at ground level, they don’t climb smooth walls. A large, fast, flat spider running across a wall or ceiling is a harmless huntsman that can look dark under artificial light.
Q. Do huntsman spiders bite?
Rarely. They prefer to flee and will only bite if trapped, squashed or defending an egg sac. Any bite is typically mild and localised.
Q. How do I stop huntsman spiders getting inside?
Seal gaps around doors, windows and weep holes, repair flyscreens, reduce night-time lighting, trim vegetation away from the house, and keep indoor insect numbers down.
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