Here in Australia we are lucky enough to sport over 2000 species of spiders! Whilst the majority of spiders cannot harm anyone, they are unpleasant to look at and their webs can cause a mess.
From Tarantula to Common House Spider, check out this information about these creepy crawlies below:
White-Tailed Spider Lampona cylindrata Also known as the White Tip Spider
Appearance
They are generally dark red or grey with dark orange banded legs. Younger spiders can bear two pairs of faint white spots with a white spot at the tip. Males can grow up to 12mm and females up to 18mm.
Black House Spiders (black spider)
Badumna insignis
Appearance
This species is a robust spider, 1-1.5cm in body length. Carapace and legs are dark brown to black and the abdomen is charcoal grey. The dorsal pattern of white marking is sometimes indistinct.
Brown House Spider (cupboard spider)Family Diaspidae
Appearance
Adult – body length excluding legs 1/4" – 3/8". Yellow brown body with faint markings. Abdomen pale grey brown with short hairs.
Daddy Long Legs SpiderPholcus phalangioides
Appearance
7-9mm long characterised by having very long legs.
Funnel Web Spider (Sydney funnel web spider)Hadronyche cerberea
Appearance
A large, bulky spider, with females reaching over 35mm in body length and males around 25mmThe head region is characteristically glossy black, while the abdomen is dark brown or purplish in colour. The body and legs are covered with fine hairsLife cycle and habits of the Funnel Web Spider
Garden Orb-Weaving Spider (Garden Orb Weavers)Eriophora spp.
Appearance
The commonly seen Garden Orb Weavers are 1-2.5cm in length. Most are stout , reddish – brown or grey spiders with a leaf shaped pattern on their triangular abdomens.
Harvestman SpiderPhalangium opilio
Appearance
Adult – 1/8"– 3/8" body. The upper body surface has a light grey/brown pattern, the lower surface is typically cream.
Huntsman SpiderDelena spp., Holconia spp., Neosparassus sp., Olios spp.
Appearance
Come in a variety of colours and patterns but are mostly brown, black and grey (there are over 100 species of Huntsman spiders in Australia). Some species are very large reaching over 160mm in leg span. The two back pairs of legs are shorter than the ones at the front and the legs fan out sideways enabling them to walk forwards and sideways often giving them a crab-like appearance.
Mouse Spider Missulena occatoria
Appearance
Mouse spiders are closely related to the trapdoor and funnel web spiders but can be distinguished by their pronounced compact, squat and huge fang sheaths at the front of the head area.Most species are dark brown or black in colour.The body size reaches around 35mm, with the male being distinctly smaller and less robust.
Red Headed Mouse SpiderMissulena insignis
Appearance
The forepart of the cephalothorax of the male is red. The rest of the body is either dark brown or black in colour.Mouse spiders are closely related to trapdoor and funnel-web spiders but can be distinguished by their pronounced compact, squat shape and huge fang sheaths at the front of the head area.The body size reaches around 35mm, with the male being distinctly smaller and less robust.
Redback Spider (Red-back Spider) Latrodectus hasseltii
Appearance
The female red-back is black with a distinctive red or orange marking on its back, although this may sometimes be absent. These markings may be broken into spots in front and, sometimes, this white lines may be visible.The female can grow up to 15mm long. Males are very small and usually only grow up to 5mm long.The male has more complex markings than those of the female, incorporating white and sometimes yellow markings.Life cycle and habits of the Redback Spider
Scorpions (1100 Spider Species)
Appearance
Adult -1/2" – 8". Colour varies with species, from yellow to black. Easily distinguished by their pincers and a long, segmented tail bearing a stinger.
St Andrew’s Cross Spider Argiope spp.
Appearance
This St Andrews Cross spider has a body length of 1-1.5cm and has bands across its abdomen.It is famous for its zig-zag ribbons that form a full or partial cross through the centre of the web.
Tarantulas (Australian Tarantula) Genus Aphonopelma
Appearance
Adult body length excluding legs – 1"- 5". Most tarantulas have black or brown hairy bodies and legs but some species exhibit striking colours.
Trapdoor Spider Misgolas rapax
Appearance
Often confused with the Funnel Web spiders the brown trapdoor can be distinguished by its chocolate brown colouration, less robust body and the presence of distinct boxing glove-shaped palps in the males (these are the appendages at the front of the head between the first pair of legs). The body and legs are covered in tiny hairs. The female is around 35mm in length, while the male is usually around 20mm and of a slimmer body.
Tree Funnel Web Spider Hadronyche cerberea
Appearance
A large, bulky spider, with females reaching over 35mm in body length and males around 25mm. The head region is characteristically glossy black, while the abdomen is dark brown or purplish in colour. The body and legs are covered with fine hairs.
Wolf Spider Trochosa ruricola
Appearance
Adult female: 5/16"; male - 1/4". They are generally brown to grey in colour.
Original article located here.
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