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Spiders
 Red-Back Spider |
Red Backs are common around Melbourne. They prefer to make their untidy web out of direct sunlight. They are found under things such as tins, boxes, machinery, outdoor furniture and pot plants. They are shy and non-aggressive. If disturbed they are likely to curl up and pretend to be dead. The female body size is about 1 cm long..The female will bite while protecting her egg sacs or if picked up or squashed against skin. BITES are highly poisonous but not painful at first. The last recorded death from a Red-back Spider bite was in 1956.
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Body length is from 1.5 - 2 cm. They are dark grey to black and have cigar-shaped abdomen with a white spot on the tip. Outdoors they are found under bark, stones and rubbish. Indoors they can be found on walls, ceilings, in clothes and bedding. BITES the usual reaction is local pain & swelling. Some people have an allergic reaction - seek medical advice.
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 White-Tailed Spider |
 Wolf Spider
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This is a large group of spiders with dozens of species.They are very common in suburban gardens. |
An attractive brown spider with horizontal yellow and crimson-brown stripes. The female constructs a thick silk cross in the centre of its orb-web. She sits in the centre of the web with her legs placed along the arms of the cross. BITES cause localised reaction. |
 St Andrew's Cross Spider |
 Huntsman |
There are many varied types of Huntsman spiders.. They are large spiders (body length 2 - 4 cm) with their first two pairs of legs being longer than their rear pairs of legs. They are generally found under loose bark but while looking for food they are often found in houses. They are non-aggressive but may bite if provoked. BITES cause localised pain around bite site.
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A common ground-dwelling spider, often found accidentally while digging or moving rocks in the garden. It is often mistaken for a funnel-web spider due to its size (body length 2 - 3 cm), colour and large fangs. If disturbed they rear up, exposing fangs as part of a defensive display. They may bite if contact is made. BITES cause short-lived localised pain. |
 Trap Door Spider |
 Black House Spider |
These are very common blackish-brown, household spiders, often found in untidy funnel-like webs around window and door frames. BITES - general localised symptoms. There are some reports of severe pain around the bite site occasionally leading to vomiting, weakness and sweating. |
Prevention of spider bites
Spider bite treatment
apply cold compress (bag of ice and water mixture), DO NOT FREEZE SKIN. - DO NOT apply restrictive bandage.
seek medical advice if symptoms worsen. If possible take the spider in a jar for positive identification.
if bitten by a RED-BACK SPIDER - DO NOT PANIC! Most bites are only minor, antivenom is only needed for more severe reactions, less than 20% of bite victims. Remember the last reported death caused by a Red-back Spider bite was in 1956.
