Spiders

Redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti)

Female redback spiders are spherical, black and about 12 mm in body length. They have long thin legs and a distinctive red stripe on the back of the abdomen. The male redback is small and harmless, around 3-4 mm in length and brown in colour. Redback spiders often build untidy webs in stacked junk and rubbish in yards or under windowsills and crevices in brickwork. Redbacks are not aggressive but can give a very serious bite, although an anti-venom is available.

Black house spider (Badumna and Ixeuticus species)

The female black house spider measures about 12-18 mm in body length, and the male is about 8-10 mm long. They are commonly black in colour with grey or cream speckling on their abdomens. Black house spiders build dense, furry, tunnel-shaped webs around eaves, windows, doors and walls. If provoked, these spiders can inflict a painful bite.

Orb-weaving spider (Eriophora and Araneus species)

The female orb-weaving spider of the common Araneus species is about 20-25 mm in body length with a lumpy abdomen; the male is 5-10 mm long. The larger Eriophora species are similar in shape with a leaf shaped pattern on their back. Both species can vary in colour but the Araneus species can be brightly coloured. These spiders build large webs at twilight, commonly between trees, shrubs and clotheslines to catch flying insects. They then destroy the web in the early morning. Orb-weaving spiders do bite but are not normally aggressive.

Mouse spider (Missulena species)

The female mouse spider is dark brown to black and very stout. They are 20-30 mm in body length with a broader head than a funnel-web. The male mouse spider is smaller, about 12 mm long with a blue-black body. It has bright red fangs and fang bases and a red cephalothorax (first half of body). The male can be very aggressive and deliver a painful bite. The mouse spider's burrow is vertical with an oval entrance and two doors.

Brown trapdoor spider Misgolas (Dyarcyops)

Brown trapdoor spiders are often confused with funnel-web spiders. Female spiders are 25-35 mm in length, and males are 20 mm. Mature males have a small spur on their first pair of front legs. Both male and female spiders are usually dark brown, and occasionally black. The female has a honey-coloured pattern on its head. Most Misgolas species build burrows on level ground, slopes or banks. They have no door to their burrow entrance. These spiders can inflict a painful bite but it is not fatal. The brown trapdoor is common in the Brindabella Ranges and their burrows may be seen in road cuttings.

Funnel-web spider Atraxand Hadronyche

Funnel-web spiders are not common in the ACT but regular sightings do occur. The female is around 30 mm in body length, males about 25 mm. Both spiders are shiny and black. Mature males have a spur on the second pair of front legs. Females are seldom seen as they spend most of their lives in burrows with funnel-like silken entrances, located in crevices, under rocks or logs, usually in a cool, damp site. The bite of the male funnel-web can be fatal, but an anti-venom is available. Male spiders are highly aggressive and when disturbed they will rear up with their fangs exposed and bite repeatedly. Funnel-web spiders are usually found on the ground around rubble, firewood, tree stumps, rockeries, tree roots, ferns and fence posts. Carefully inspect these materials for spiders before bringing them into the ACT from areas where funnel-webs are common.