Lycosidae
Wolf Spider
What do I look Like
1-8 cm Wolf spiders have exceptional vision with two large front eyes, two on top for predators and four smaller eyes.
A Little Bit About Me
Living in Urban areas, forests, woodlands, and heath. They commonly live in leaf litter or burrows in open ground, with visible burrows in Sydney gardens. Nighttime is optimal for spotting. Female wolf spiders carry egg sacs attached to their spinnerets, and when hatched, spiderlings cling to the mother's back using special knobbed hairs.
Where I live
Australia-wide.
Am I a Danger to Humans
Wolf spider bite symptoms are typically mild, involving local pain or itchiness. In rare cases, there may be swelling, prolonged pain, dizziness, rapid pulse, and nausea. If symptoms persist, it's advisable to seek medical attention.
Sparassidae
Huntsman
What do I look Like
Body lengths: 2 cm (female), 1.6 cm (male); Leg span: up to 15 cm
A Little Bit About Me
Huntsman have a rather simple eye arrangement: two rows of four eyes, like two-thirds of a carton of eggs.
Huntsman spiders, large and long-legged, vary in color, often gray to brown with banded legs. Some, have flattened bodies adapted for narrow spaces under bark or rocks. Legs spread out laterally, giving a crab-like appearance. Brown and Badge Huntsman spiders have less flattened bodies.
Huntsman spiders, large and long-legged, vary in colour, often grey to brown with banded legs. Some, have flattened bodies adapted for narrow spaces under bark or rocks. Legs spread out laterally, giving a crab-like appearance. Brown and Badge Huntsman spiders have less flattened bodies.
Where I live
Australia-wide.
Am I a Danger to Humans
A cold pack may relieve local pain. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
Araneidae
Orb-Weaving Spider
What do I look Like
Over 100 species Generally Female size ranges from 2 cm to 3 cm, while males measure between 1.5 cm and 2 cm.
A Little Bit About Me
Orb-weaving spiders, with eight eyes, create intricate webs. St. Andrew’s cross spiders craft webs with a central white cross, reflecting UV to attract prey and warn birds. Golden orb-weavers, like Nephila, strategically set webs near streetlights, capitalizing on moth attraction. Garden orb weavers, furry and nocturnal, weave expansive webs at dusk.
Where I live
Silver Orb Weaving Spiders are widespread in Australia. Golden Orb Weaving Spiders, inhabit dry open forests, woodlands, coastal sand dune shrublands, with both species present in the Sydney region.
Am I a Danger to Humans
Orb weavers rarely bite; symptoms include mild pain, numbness, and swelling. Seek medical help if symptoms persist.
Badumna Insignis
Black House Spider
What do I look Like
Females range from 12 mm to 18 mm, while males measure between 9 mm and 15 mm.
A Little Bit About Me
In the bush, the black house spider lives on rough-barked trees, creating retreats for hunting. Around houses, feed on moths and termites attracted to light. Females produce silk egg sacs, guarding them until hatching. The spiders mature in summer, living about two years.
Where I live
Black House Spiders are widely distributed, particularly in southern and eastern Australia.
Am I a Danger to Humans
Black House Spiders are typically timid; bites are rare but can cause pain, swelling, and occasionally nausea. Apply a cold pack for local pain relief; persistent symptoms warrant medical attention.
Lampona
White-Tailed Spider
What do I look Like
Males 12 mm, Females 18 mm
White-tailed Spiders have a dark, cigar-shaped body, dark orange-brown banded legs, and a dorsal abdomen with two pairs of faint white spots.
White-tailed Spiders have a dark, cigar-shaped body, dark orange-brown banded legs, and a dorsal abdomen with two pairs of faint white spots.
A Little Bit About Me
White-tailed Spiders, vagrant hunters, dwell under bark, rocks, leaf litter, logs, and detritus in various environments, including bush, gardens, and houses. Nighttime is their peak activity period for hunting other spiders, their preferred prey.
Where I live
Australia-wide.
Am I a Danger to Humans
White-tailed Spider bites may cause burning pain, swelling, and itchiness. Unconfirmed reports suggest weals, blistering, or local ulceration, termed medically as necrotising arachnidism.
Latrodectus Hasselti
Red Back Spider
What do I look Like
1 cm (female); 3 mm - 4 mm (male)
Female Redback Spiders are black with an orange to red stripe on the upper abdomen and an hourglass-shaped spot below. Juveniles have additional white markings. Males have less distinct red markings, with a light brown body and white markings on the abdomen.
Female Redback Spiders are black with an orange to red stripe on the upper abdomen and an hourglass-shaped spot below. Juveniles have additional white markings. Males have less distinct red markings, with a light brown body and white markings on the abdomen.
A Little Bit About Me
Redback Spider webs feature a tangled, funnel-like upper retreat connected to vertical sticky threads. They prefer habitats near humans, building webs in dry, sheltered places like rocks, logs, shrubs, sheds, or toilets. Redback Spiders are less common in winter.
Where I live
Australia-wide.
Am I a Danger to Humans
Redback spider bites, more common in summer, can cause severe pain, sweating, weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Antivenom is available, and applying an ice pack may relieve pain. Seek medical attention.
Atracidae
Funnel-web Spiders
What do I look Like
The body length varies from 1 cm to 5 cm.
A Little Bit About Me
Australia hosts 36 funnel-web spider species in three genera: Hadronyche, Atrax, and Illawarra,. Some species have highly toxic venom, with Atrax robustus, the male Sydney Funnel-web, responsible for deaths and serious bites. Funnel-webs thrive in moist, cool, sheltered habitats, preferring rocks, logs, crevices, and tree borer holes. In gardens, they favour rockeries and dense shrubberies, avoiding open areas like lawns.
Where I live
Funnel-web spiders are found from Tasmania to north Queensland, including drier open forests the. The Sydney Funnel-web is found from Newcastle to Nowra and west to Lithgow in New South Wales.
Am I a Danger to Humans
Male Sydney Funnel-web Spider venom, containing Robustoxin, is highly toxic to humans and monkeys, absent in females. However, not all funnel-web species exhibit this gender-based difference in venom toxicity.
Seek immediate medical attention. If possible, retain the spider for identification.
Pholcus phalangioides
Daddy-long-legs Spider
What do I look Like
9 mm
A Little Bit About Me
The Daddy-long-legs Spider, part of the tangle-web spiders, thrives in urban areas, especially houses. It weaves thin, tangled webs in sheltered spots like under furniture, behind doors, ceilings' corners, sheds, garages, and under decks. Its adaptability to human-made structures has made it one of Australia's most common spiders. When disturbed, it responds with a rapid, vibratory motion.
Where I live
Australia-wide.
Am I a Danger to Humans
No Danger to humans
Arbanitis
Trapdoor Spiders
What do I look Like
1.5 cm - 3 cm
Males have a small double spur on their first leg, and both genders have short, blunt spinnerets. Females, larger and harder to identify to species, share the coverage of tiny hairs on the body and legs.
A Little Bit About Me
Trapdoor spiders, generally timid, may rear up when threatened. Not all species make door-like burrows. Brown Trapdoor burrows lack doors and are scattered over lawns. They differ from Funnel-web burrows by the absence of silk triplines. Sigillate Trapdoor burrows have soil or litter trapdoors.
Where I live
N.S.W. VIC S.A
Am I a Danger to Humans
Not dangerous. Local pain and swelling may occur.
Seek medical attention if symptoms persist. Collect for a positive identification.
Seek medical attention if symptoms persist. Collect for a positive identification.