Hi Everyone, I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai'i. I had a very terrifying experience when I was 12 sitting at our dinner table in the early afternoon. A cane spider (seemed larger than a tuna can!) crawled speedly up my leg and scared the tar out of me! I flicked it off onto the carpet and put a chair leg on it. I know that they are good roach eaters but to this day I have an awful phobia of spiders! I moved away from Hawai'i after I graduated HS and went to college in the mainland never to return to my home land. I can't stand the thought of one of those nasty eight legged creatures crawling on me again! Now living in the states there are a lot worse that could happen...but not spiders! I fumigate my property to keep them under control. Spiders are already creepy, especially the agile, speedy running CANE spider!
— Jenny, September 12, 2009

Cane Spider for Pet
My friend visited one day from North Shore. When she went to get back in her car, she realized there was a hitch-hiker on the car- one big cane spider. She is used to seeing them at her home in North Shore, but I had never. We caught it in a ziploc container, then I decided to keep it for my son to observe and learn. We bought it a clear box at the pet store. We feed it crickets and it is so cool to watch nature in action! Today I came home and "she" laid a big pillowy egg sac and there are some eggs stuck on the plastic wall. The babies would run all over my house if they hatch- One spider in a container is enough for this house! Now I am researching how long they take to hatch and if they are even fertilized. I don't know what to do and have never heard of anyone making this kind of spider a pet. Anyone?
— Shari, October 23, 2007

YIKES!
I just read the Email from Ann Julian... in Aiea. I used to live in Aiea.... Anyway... if the Spiders you are seeing aren't in a web... then you most likely ARE having the "joyful" experience of meeting our delightful Cane Spider friends!!! NOW............... hopefully you don't meet a CENTIPEDE!!! I had the "privilege" of getting bit/stung by one a few years ago! Now THAT'S what I call un-fun!!! YIKES!
— Bonnie, September 6, 2007

Cane Spiders
I live in Aiea, and man let me tell you, I swear Cane Spiders live in my back yard!! I've only lived on the island for a little over a year, and although I've heard horror stories about these guys, I had never had the pleasure of seeing one....until I moved into a new apartment. Three days after I moved in, sure enough, there was the biggest spider I had ever seen chillin on the outside (thank god) of my sliding glass door. Now I see them all the time in the back yard, only at night, and of course I scream, run, and hide in the house. I haven't seen one in the house yet (knock on wood) And I hope I never do. But man, are these things the scariest things I've ever seen!!!!
— Ann Julian, September 3, 2007

Hawaii Cane Spider!
It's me again... the person that had that funny Cane Spider experience... was actually a she... Susan,from Maui! I just was wondering... did she ever find out how to get rid of them?! I know Ian said they are harmless, but I think I'd rather have a few itty bitty insects than a HEART ATTACK!
— Bonnie, July 2, 2007

Hawaii Cane Spider
I laughed at the experience someone had with a Cane Spider... where he kicked a box out the door and only saw part of a spider... and all these babies came running out!!! Try spotting one while you are in the shower all sudsy and nowhere to run!!! I had a HUGE one that just froze in one spot, staring me down with it's beady eyes... on the wall! It's a good thing I don't believe in re-incarnation!!! I slowly filled a container of HOT water... trying not to startle it...(whoever said they don't run towards you OBVIOUSLY was NOT on the Big Island!) I poured the water on it, it crumpled up,and slid down the wall! Then all of a sudden it popped up and ran across the floor... I screamed, yet couldn't run, otherwise I could have slipped! I still don't know where it fled to!!!
— Bonnie, July 2, 2007

Cane Spiders
I live in Hawaii and where we live we get alot of Cane spiders. They don't usually run at you, unless you're standing in front of something or them to hide in, or an exit for them to flee from. A friend told me that if you do see one, don't kill it, but set if free, or let it live with you. They're creepy but they kill aannoying and aggrivating, smaller insects like gnats and mosquitos. But yeah, I have to agree with a few questions back, "are they one of the biggest spiders out there" is this true, by your knowlege? I'd expect so, regarding their leg size.
— Ian S, March 25, 2007

Cane Spiders YIKES
HI Tim, Well, its 11 pm and im sitting here with my feet up and all freaked out. I was laying on the couch watching tv and the hugest cane spider was on the ceiling right above me. I had to run and get a broom. I opened up the sliding doors, hoping to fling it out, but no, it hits the floor and runs for a storage container that i have books in. I hit and beat it. Inside is an egg sack with thousand of baby cane spiders running around. I kicked that poor box out the door and its all there,,but i cant find the rest of the spider. only the egg sack and what looks like part of a spider was well inside the box.. so was that another spider?? Cane spiders are truly the freakiest, ugliest, scariest spider known to man. The run at you, not away. I'm online searching. how to kill them all. freaked out chic in maui
— susan from maui, October 4, 2006

Hi Tim

Some quality pics. Is there a particulat time of year the Huntsman etc come out in Adelaide? Also, do you get loads of roaches in the summer. I'm trying to emigrate too, to SA & would like to manage my expectations :-) Cheers Stephen
— Stephen, June 26, 2006

No worries Callie
Hi Callie,

I had to go looking for these insects, generally you don't see them. The worst we have is the Redback Spider and I have not seen one in a long time. Tim :o)
— Tim Lubcke, January 21, 2005

Oh my god! They are nasty looking things. I am trying to emigrate to S.A. Seriously, how often do you really come across these things? What are the most common/worst creatures in adelaide?
— callie, January 21, 2005

questions on the cane spider
i was told that the cane spider in hawaii (spelling) are some of the biggest spiders around is this true and if so can i get dimensions and maybe a good pic of one thankyou jacob jones
— jacob jones, April 6, 2004

Thank you!!
Your pictures are the best I have seen i just wanted to thank you very much for helping me out thank you!!
— Heather, October 12, 2003

Yeah the Huntsman spider does look like our Hawaiian cane spider. The female when pregnant carrys a white sack under her body and all the babys are inside. I stepped on one one time and it looked like about a hunderd babies came running out of the sack
— Steve, July 26, 2003

That "huntsman" looks very much like what we call "cane spiders" here in Hawaii. Oddly, I have a fascination for spiders and do not generally fear them, but, having said that, cane spiders give me the willies! I discovered one in my livingroom a couple of years ago and he scared me and my wife and our cat. They are fast and agile! You Australians are so lucky! Toxic fungi, spiders galore, man-eating crocs, poisonous reptiles... How I envy you!
— gung gung, June 8, 2003

Nice spiders! I love looking at spiders, but I get a bit nervous when they come too close, particularly the large black varieties. I was brought up in the heart of the Sydney Funnelweb area and I have a healthy respect for anything that could put our next-door neighbour into intensive care for a week.
— Steve Axford, June 5, 2003

icky!
yikes, there are some scary looking spiders down under, aren't there? that's as close as i'd like to get, that's for sure! thanks for making me itch... tina
— Tina Moy, June 5, 2003