Palystes castaneus

Palystes castaneus is a species of huntsman spider found in South Africa.[1] It is common from Cape Town to Heidelberg, Western Cape, especially in forested areas. In scrub outside forested areas, it is replaced by Palystes superciliosus. It occurs mainly on plants, where it hunts insects. It has a body length of 17–22 mm.[2] P. castaneus is the type species for the genus Palystes, and was first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1819.[1]

Spiders in the genus Palystes are commonly called rain spiders, or lizard-eating spiders.[3] P. castaneus often appears in the home just before the onset of rain, where they hunt geckos (usually Afrogecko porphyreus). Males are regularly seen from August to December, probably looking for females.[2]