Habitat - a hunter that prefers to live under the flaking bark of trees, under flat rocks and under areas or within roof spaces of buildings. The Huntsman Spider often wanders into homes and found perched on a wall. it is shy, timed spider that can move sideways at lightning fast speeds when disturbed.
Spider indentification - an adult varies greatky around 15mm in body length - has long legs - the diameter of an adult including legs may reach 45mm - the first 2 pairs of legs are longer that the rear two - its hairy - buff to beige brown in colour , with dark patches on body.
Venom toxicity - the bite of a Hunstman Spider is of low risk (non toxic) to humas. they are non-aggressive group of spiders. However a large indivisual can give a painful bite. Beware in summer when the female Huntsman Spider is guarding her egg sacs and young.
Habitat - this spider is a web-weaver ususally found in summer in garden areas around the home. It is considered benificial as it spins a large web to snare flying insects.
Spider identification - adult 5 to 15mm in body length - abdomen stripped yellow and brown - as illustrated. The St Andrews Cross Spider usually sits upside down, in the middle of it's web froming a cross - as illustrated
Venom toxicity - the bite of the St Andrews Cross spider is of low risk (non toxic) to humans. They are non-aggressive group of spiders.
Habitat - often found in summer in garden areas around the home - they spin large circular webs of 2 metres or more., often between buildings and shrubs, to snare flying insects, such as flies and mosquitoes.
Spider identification - an adult is about 20mm to 30mm in body length - has a bulbous abdomen - often courful - dark to light brown pattern. The common Golden Orb Weaver Spider has a purplish bulbous abdomen with few hairs.
Venom toxicity - the bite of the Orb-Weaving Spiders is of low risk (not toxic) to humans. They are non-aggressive group of spiders. Seldom bite. Be careful not to walk into their webs at night - the fright of a spider crawling over one's face can be terrifying and may cause a heart attack, particularly to the susceptible over 40 year olds.
Habitat - this spider is a ground dweller, with burrow retreat lined with silk of up to 250mm in depth and around 25mm is width. Prefers nesting in drier exposed locations - often has a wafer-like lid on the burrow entrance. Trap-Door Spiders are commonly found in the drier ground areas around home.
Spider indentification - an adult is about 35mm in body length - brown to dark brown in colour. - heavily covered in fine hairs. The male has distinct boxing glove shaped pulps, that is, the two "sensory feelers" at front of it's head.
Venom Toxicity - the bite of the Trap-Door Spider is of low risk (non toxic) to humas. It is a non-aggressive spider - usually timid but may stand up and present it's fangs if harrassed. Rarely bites - but is so, can be painful.
Habitat - this spider is a ground dweller, with burrow retreat. It has a roving nocturnal lifestyle to hunt their prey and can move very rapidly when disturbed. Commonly found around home, in garden areas with a silked lined burrow., sometimes with a lid or covered by leaf litter or grass woven with silk as a little fence around the rim of the burrow.
Spider indentification - an adult is 15mm to 30mm in body length - mottled grey to brown colour, with distinct Union Jack impressions on it's back. The female carries it's young on it's back.
Venom Toxicity - the bite of a Wolf Spider is poisonous but not lethal. Altough non-aggressive, they bite freely if provoked and should be considered dangerous to humans. The bite may be very painful. First aid attention should be sought as soon as possible, particularly as to children or the elderly.
Habitat - this spider spins a lacy, messy web and it prefers dry habitats in secluded locations. It is commonly found in window framing, under eaves, gutters, in brickwork, sheds, toilets and amongst rocks and bark. Electric lights attract their prey - moths and other insects.
Spider indentification - adults are about 15mm in body length and of a dark brown to black velvet textured apperance.
Venom Toxicity - the bite of the Black House Spider is poisonous but not lethal. Certain people bitten experience severe pain around the bite site, heavy sweating, muscular pains, vomitting, headaches and giddiness. First aid medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as soon as possible.
Habitat - Mouse Spiders are ground dwellers with burrows of more than 1 metre deep. The male often wanders about during the day on open ground, especially after rain, in search for females.
Spider identification - a medium to large spider of up to 35mm in body length. The male Mouse Spider often has a bright red head and elongated fangs.The Mouse Spider is often mistaken for a Funnel-Web Spider. The main differences being the Funnel-Web has much longer spinnerets (the two appendages on the end of the abdomen) and the male Funnel-Web has a spur on it's second leg - as illustrated.
Venom toxicity - known to cause severe illness, especially to young children - simular to Red-Back spider. Although normally not aggressive, the male Mouse Spider will bite if provoked and should be considered dangerous to humans. First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as soon as possible if bitten.
Habitat - prefers cool, moist locations, commonly found in garden mulch areas. In summer they often wander into buildings, particualarly bathrooms to escape the heat.
Spider indentification - adult size varies from 12 to 20mm in the body length - grey to black in colour with white section on the end of it's tail - as illustrated.
In some rare but dramatic cases, a severe allergic reaction, blistering or ulceration of the skin has been reported and linked to the bite of a White-Tailed Spider. However, this has not been proven conclusively to the satisfaction of some scientific researchers. Bacterial infection of the wound caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans carried on the fangs of the White-Tailed Spider may be a contributing factor. In any case, first aid and medical attention should be sought if bitten, as and when adverse health effects are observed.
Habitat - prefers dry habitats, often found in and out of homes, letterboxes, fence lines, undersides of seats, in rubbish areas, in the subfloor and other dark areas, and lights (where the light attracts moths and other insects).
One small amount of venom can cause serious illness, as the poison attacks the nervous system. Systemic envenomisation usually results in nausea, headache, vomiting, adominal pain, hypertension, and in severe cases, paralysis. The pain around the bite area can be excrusiating. First aid and medical attention (ambulance) shoudl be sought as soon as possible if bitten.
Spider indentification - size varies greatly. The male can be tiny, with the abdomen of the female growing to the size of a large pea. Red-Back Spiders do not always have a "red" marking.
Venom Toxicity - the Red-Back Spider can inflict painful bites which can be fatal, especially in young and elderly.
Spider indentification - an adult male 25mm - female 30mm in body length. Shinny black in colour with dark purplish brown abdomen - reddish hairs. Unique attributes include: it's long spinnerets (that is two appendages on the end of the abdomen) and the male has a spur on its hind legs - refer to male Funnel-Web picture.
An anti-venom is available in most major hospitals and ambulance vehicles in Funnell-Web country. First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as soon as possible if bitten
Danger time - the mature male Funnel-Web Spider will wander around during humid nights, looking for a mate, and is known to enter homes, clothing, washing, footwear and simming pools. People also find Funnel-Web Spiders wandering around the garden areas or in the home after heavy rain or near-by earthworks. It is highly aggressive when disturbed and can inflict multiple bites.
