Scytodes globula
Scytodes globula, the Chilean tiger spider, is a predatory spider of the family Scytodidae. In Spanish, it is known as araña tigre, or "tiger spider", but is also well known as "long-legged spider" (because of the disproportional size of those members) or "spitting spider" (because of its hunting methods, in which it projects an extremely sticky web which immobilizes its prey). It has achieved fame by being the only natural predator of the extremely common and dangerous Chilean recluse spider (Loxosceles laeta).
| Chilean tiger spider | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Scytodidae |
| Genus: | Scytodes |
| Species: | S. globula |
| Binomial name | |
| Scytodes globula (Nicolet, 1849) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Scytodes maculata | |
Description and habitat
The Chilean tiger spider's size varies from 30 up to 70 mm in the adult state. Its body is small (specially if compared to the size of its legs, which are usually between three and four times the size of its body). It has slow movements and it hunts only at night.
The spider is native to South America (it is more common in Chile, but can be found in other parts of South America, specifically in Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia). It lives mostly inside houses in dark and hidden places such as behind frames, in closets, etc. But it can also be found outdoors.
Hunting method
The hunting method of the Chilean tiger spider is quite characteristic and it is the origin of one of its nicknames, the spitting spider. At night, the spider stealthily approaches its prey and then contracts its abdomen projecting an extremely sticky and resistant spider-web, which imprisons its prey even if it is larger than the spider; then, once the prey is verified to be immobilized, the spider injects its poison, secreted from its second venom gland.
Prey
The Chilean tiger spider preys on flies, mosquitoes, bees, horse-flies, and other insects. However it also eats other kinds of spiders, and it has become famous for being the only natural predator of the common and dangerous recluse spider (Loxosceles laeta).
Webs
The Chilean tiger spider builds barely elaborated spider-webs and only in its refuges.
Bites
It is extremely unlikely for the Chilean tiger spider to attack beings that are more than twice its size (mainly because of its hunting methods), so an attack on a human being has almost no chance of happening. It has been declared by several studies of Chilean Universities to be "innocuous to human beings". There are no clinical records of attacks on humans.
Relationship with the Chilean recluse spider
Even if the tiger spider is famous for preying on the recluse spider, University of Chile's studies have shown that only 50% of encounters between the two kinds of spider result in a fight between them, out of which only 75% result in the tiger spider actually killing the recluse spider. The title of natural predator of the recluse spider is therefore open to doubt.