There's a huntsman in your room because it's hunting for food (other bugs like cockroaches, flies, moths) that are also seeking shelter in your home, especially as it gets cooler, and your house provides entry points like cracks and gaps. Huntsmen wander to find prey, so they might just be passing through or found a good hunting ground in your room, but they are beneficial, harmless spiders that prefer to avoid humans and will run if startled, so you can gently escort it outside or seal entry points to prevent more from coming in.
Yes, you can sleep with a huntsman in your room because they are generally harmless to humans, beneficial pest controllers (eating roaches/mosquitoes), and are reluctant to bite, though their large size and speed can be startling; most people either leave them be or gently relocate them outside with a cup and card. While it's unlikely they'll crawl on your face, if you're uncomfortable, you can use a container to move it or even sleep in a tent until it's gone, but they usually move on quickly.
Huntsman spiders come inside homes seeking food (other insects like cockroaches), shelter from extreme heat or cold, and mates, easily squeezing through small gaps under doors, windows, or in walls. Their presence often signals an abundance of other pests, as they are drawn to areas with plentiful prey.
You can catch them with an empty container of some kind and a bit of paper to slide underneath. Then let them go outside, and lay down barrier spray against all the windows and doors, and as many edges as you can, and bob's your uncle.
They're never in your bed, never in your shoes, never somewhere where you accidentally find them. It was always a bit freaky when they were on the wall over a doorway - you'd always wonder if they're going to jump on you when you pass though, but they don't.
While they may not jump like some other spider species, huntsman spiders can move rapidly in short bursts. So, if you encounter a huntsman spider, you are more likely to see it scuttling away quickly rather than leaping towards you.
The last thing you want to be sharing your room with is a bug. While you might expect to find spiders in other areas of your house, yes, you might find one in your bed!
Surface spray and eucalyptus oil are apparently good deterrents around door frames/window sills. Pop some eucalyptus oil on cotton balls and have them in any nooks and crannies they might frequent.
Most huntsman spiders are quite docile creatures that prefer scurrying away to confrontation. Almost all species live alone, although the sexes can have long and elaborate courtships before mating. There is, however, one species native to Australia that is known as the flat or social huntsman – Delena cancerides.
Though harmless, Huntsman spiders can make your home feel less inviting. They often hide behind furniture, in cupboards, or even in cars, ready to make an unexpected appearance. This can be unsettling, particularly for families with children or pets.
The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is widely considered the world's most dangerous spider due to its highly toxic venom, large fangs that pierce skin easily, and aggressive nature, with the male's venom capable of causing death in humans before antivenom (introduced in 1981). While other spiders like Brazilian wandering spiders also have potent venom, the Sydney funnel-web's combination of toxicity and propensity for biting humans, particularly in populated areas, earns it the top spot for danger.
You should never squish a spider because it can release dozens of baby spiders if it's a mother carrying eggs, attract pests with released pheromones, cause allergic reactions from its internal fluids, leave stains and odors, and you'd be killing a beneficial predator that controls other insect populations. Most spiders are harmless to humans, and squishing them can backfire, worsening pest problems or causing messes.
Vinegar: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it directly onto any spiders you see. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which burns the spider upon contact.
Huntsman spiders are not deadly and rarely bite humans. “They chase people.” – Huntsman spiders run fast, but they're escaping, not attacking. Their speed can make it look like they're running toward you. “They are pests.” – They help reduce cockroach and insect numbers.
They're also incredibly sensitive to vibrations, and while you probably aren't moving much while you're sleeping, you're still breathing and snoring. They're likely even to sense your heartbeat, meaning they're going to steer clear even if you happen to be unconscious.
Seeing one huntsman inside sometimes means more than just a single rogue spider. In fact, these hunters go where the prey is and that prey often includes other pests. Pests are nearby: A huntsman indicates food sources like cockroaches, flies or other insects are present.
While the theory is unproven, it is likely that spiders can detect human fear.
Although Huntsman spiders can run fast, sometimes it is just not fast enough. They are a great food source for other animals and insects. Birds, geckoes, nematode worms and the egg parasites of wasps and flies are all huntsman predators.
Huntsman spiders, like all spiders, moult in order to grow and often their old skin may be mistaken for the original spider when seen suspended on bark or in the house. The lifespan of most Huntsman species is about two years or more. Discover more about spider survival.
Many species live on trees, particularly gum (eucalypt) trees. They hide beneath the bark during the day, and emerge to hunt on the trunks and branches at night. Some, known as Badge Huntsmen live in foliage and build retreats by binding leaves together with silk.
Spiders avoid people, animals, and most insects – except for the one's they're about to eat of course. As stated above, most spiders are relatively small. That makes them especially vulnerable. Many birds and animals may try to eat spiders, or at the very least, they'll probably interfere with the spider's food source.
Use natural scents and essential oils
Peppermint oil: Evidence suggests that peppermint oil effectively deters spiders. In a spray bottle, mix 5-10 drops of pure peppermint oil with 240ml (1 cup) of water. Shake well, then spritz generously around windows, door frames, and the corners of your room.
Sleeping with a spider in the room is generally safe since most household spiders are harmless and avoid human contact. They usually do not bite unless threatened, and their presence can even help control pests.
Keep the lights down – Just like moths, spiders are drawn to light, so turn outside lights off when you're not using them and keep doors and windows closed or blinds shut when the lights are on inside. Clear the clutter – Spiders like to lay low in places that are out of sight.
Some spiders may even take refuge in bedding, laundry, or toys. It never hurts to shake out items that have been sitting awhile just to make sure there are no spiders hiding out.