The following spiders, commonly found in the ACT region, construct a sticky web to entangle and trap insects. All spiders should be treated with caution, even though most species, with the exception of the Funnel Web, are not aggressive. A vast majority of spiders are harmless and play an important role as insect predators.
Image | Description |
---|
| Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti) Female redback spiders are spherical, black, and about 12 mm in body length. They have long thin legs and have a distinctive red stripe on the back of the abdomen. The male redback is small and harmless, approx. 3-4 mm in length and brown in colour. Redback spiders often build untidy webs in stacked junk and rubbish in yards or under window sills and crevices in brickwork. Redbacks are not aggressive but are capable of delivering a very serious bite that can be fatal for young children, 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 Spiders (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, whilst 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 are variable 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 hours of morning. Orb spiders do bite, but are not normally aggressive. |
First aid treatment for spider bites
It is important to apply treatment as soon as a spider bite has occurred.
- In most cases a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel applied to the affected area to reduce the pain and swelling will be all that is required. Monitor the condition of the patient and seek immediate medical help if allergic reactions occur.
- Funnel Web Spider bite: rest and reassure the patient, apply a pressure immobilization bandage over the bitten area and around the limb, and seek medical aid urgently.
- Redback Spider bite: reassure the patient, apply a cold pack over the area, seek medical aid.
For further information contact the ACT Poisons Information Centre at the Canberra Hospital on 13 11 26.