wandering spider

plural wandering spiders

1. Any spider of the family Ctenidae, some of which have a reputation of being extremely aggressive.

   ln South America, wandering spiders in the genus Phoneutria (family Ctenidae) are also rightly feared.

   2003, Astri Leroy, John Leroy, Spiders of Southern Africa, page 49

   2 more examples

   Wandering spiders generally attack large insects or other arthropods such as harvestmen, but some prefer to hunt vertebrates (animals with backbones). Some large species of wandering spiders are expert frog hunters.

   2003, various authors, “Wandering spider”, in Insects and Spiders of the World, volume 10, Marshall Cavendish, page 582

   Unlike the bite of the black widow, the bite of the wandering spider is immediately painful and the victim can go into shock.[…]A bite from a wandering spider should be treated as a medical emergency as the patient will need antivenin as soon as possible.

   2011, Ross Piper, Pests: A Guide to the World's Most Maligned, Yet Misunderstood Creatures, page 20

   Synonyms: running spider