Big Tarantula-Like Spider Found in Santa Rosa, CA

Posted May 9th, 2010, in: Ideas, Observations, Opinions, Rants Etc

This is the biggest spider I’ve ever seen in Northern California.  It is somewhere between brown and gray.  The tips of its legs are a lighter color – almost orange.  It appears to only have two eyes. It’s legs are a little hairy.  It’s abdomen is not hairy as much as velvety or felt-like.  It has the basic body-shape of a classic ‘tarantula,’ but I have no idea what it is.

Do you know what this thing is?  Did you find a similar one?  If so, please comment.

It’s frustrating that google results for searches related to this totally fail.  There seems to be no comprehensive online resource for identifying bugs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to identify bugs with the internet and gotten nowhere.  So far, it just can’t be done I guess.

6 Responses to “Big Tarantula-Like Spider Found in Santa Rosa, CA”

 
Chris Bird wrote on May 10th, 2010 1:18 am :

That’s a female Crevice Weaver Spider (Kukulcania hibernalis)

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/10/17/female-crevice-weaver-spider

They are not venomous.

Linda wrote on September 4th, 2010 12:06 am :

What a gorgeous spider! Say, if you happen to find another one like this, please consider contacting me. I am a spider ecologist and I do spider presentations in schools – I would love to have one of these to show. Also, feel free to contact me with any future spider questions you may have. I know how hard it is to get good info on spiders, and I am happy to share my knowledge.

Kathy wrote on November 3rd, 2010 9:09 am :

It’s 2am and I felt something walk across my face…i turned on the light and couldn’t find anything…I lifted up my pillow and there is this HUGE spider!! It looks like a baby trantula. I won’t be going back to sleep. I am looking all over the web to find out what it is. It’s like a brown/grey with hairy legs…kind of a flat body and hair on it’s mouth.

adam karsten wrote on November 7th, 2010 4:15 pm :

Thanks for this posting! I just caught one of the same type in our living room. Yikes.

We live in Mill Valley, CA. If Linda or anyone else would like to take possession of the spider, let me know.

Sherry wrote on April 18th, 2011 1:26 am :

I found this spider on my stairs in Mill Valley just now. Linda, do you really want it? I’m a bit of an arachnophobe but will jar it if you want it and it’s still there.

Sherry wrote on April 18th, 2011 1:27 am :

oops…sherrymo7 (at) yahoo

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