"Be Kind to Spiders Day" at Audubon Insectarium in New Orleans - Zoo and Aquarium Visitor News

Common huntsmen (Sparassidae isopeda) are wide-spread and frequently enter houses at night. They do not build a web, but hunt for insects. They are large, fast moving spiders, but are not considered aggressive. Bites may result in local symptoms, usually pain and swelling. Shield huntsmen (Neosparassus sp.) less frequently enter houses. Their bite may also cause local problems as well as sweating, nausea and vomiting. The genus Neosparassus was formerly called Olios and the family Sparassidae was formerly named Heteropodidae.