Woodlouse Hunters (Dysderidae)

Woodlouse hunters are a spider family that today comprises a little more than 600 species in 25 genera. They have only six eyes, which are grouped at the front of the body (Fig. 4.12). The front and hind body are elongate. They are small to medium-sized species that occur in many habitats, where they are mostly nocturnal hunters on the ground, in leaf litter, under stones, and in caves of all kinds. They do not build capture webs. The family as such is distributed worldwide but has a focus in the Mediterranean area. Although many dysderids, being cave dwellers, seem suited to colonize human buildings, only one species is common in houses. It has therefore also achieved a worldwide distribution. We describe this species in more detail here.