20: Dysdera crocata (“Roly Poly Hunter”)

I write to you from Arapahoe, Ute, and Cheyenne land. I am interested in learning about the different animals that live in the place where I was born. I want to mention that biological classification as taught by western science has its roots in racism, sexism, and transphobia – here’s a good explainer about why.

The Woodlouse Spider (Dysdera crocata) has many names: woodlouse hunter, sowbug hunter, sowbug killer, pillbug hunter… sensing a theme? Here in Colorado they are called the Roly Poly Hunter, because that is our regional name for that particular isopod. Do you have another name for them? Here’s a fun survey about regional names – Scotland alone has several different names for these bugs.

So we know that Dysdera crocata has a penchant for isopod murder – how does it commit its crimes? Perhaps in the study or the kitchen, where they would have spent the day in a silken retreat made to enclose crevices or sometimes constructing a tent-like structures in an indent. And its weapon is its oversized chelicerae – the appendages in front of spiders’ mouth, which in this species are large enough and sharp enough to pierce an isopod’s tough exoskeleton and bypass any defensive chemicals the isopods might excrete. Indeed, this species chelicerae are so large that they are able to hunt other creatures almost as large as themselves. If you see one of these, you will not fail to notice them – they look always like those on a rhinoceros beetle when viewed from above.

Another interesting thing about their anatomy: they have six eyes instead of the customary eight.

By the way, this spider will bite you if you disturb it – but it will just be itchy and is nothing to worry about. They are great at controlling garden pests.

This species is invasive in Colorado, and all of North America – they are originally from the Mediterranean!

Finally, there’s a moody French band called the Woodlouses who have a song named after the Dysdera crocata. Go support your non-local French indie artists and give it a listen.