Spiders

Daddy Long Legs Spider

Fact Box Species: Pholcus phalangioides (RM) (an introduced cosmopolitan species) Family: Pholcidae Body length: female: 8 mm male: 7.5 mm Habitat: In a thin, tangled web attached to the ceilings and upper walls of rooms, sheds and caves (hence this species is also called a cellar spider) but also under bridges and in hollows of dead trees Toxicity: Probably too small to cause illness in humans; the suggestion it has very potent venom is a myth but its long legs give it an advantage over other kinds of spiders

Its web Eyes and palps Female with eggs Male palps Another species? Side view Female epigynum Carapace from side

A noteworthy characteristic of this spider is its habit of shaking the web violently when disturbed. The female will often be found holding her eggs in her palps.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Any other pholcid with an elongate abdomen. 

Information and pictures on the Daddy Long Legs Spider is kindly reproduced with permission from Dr Ron Atkinsons Find a Spider Guide for Spiders of Southern QLD

White-tailed spider

Fact Box Species: Lampona murina (Platnick) Previous species name: Lampona cylindrata (a misidentification) Family: Lamponidae Body length: female: 16 mm male: 12 mm Habitat: in crevices in houses/sheds or under bark; sometimes found inside on walls and ceilings Toxicity: May cause necrotising arachnidism

The male Male, close up Another species? Under that species

This species has previously been identified by most people as Lampona cylindrata but recent taxanomic work has indicated that it is a different, though closely related, species. According to Platnick, L. cylindrata is mostly found in southern parts of Australia whereas L. murina is the equivalent species in the northern half of the continent.

Both the cephalothorax and abdomen of this spider are tapering cylinders coloured satin black. The fovea on the carapace runs lengthwise rather than across as it does on many other spider species. The distinctive off-white spot at the rear end of the abdomen gives this spider its common name. Two lateral pairs of pale spots are also seen on the upper surfaces of the abdomen, especially in immature specimens.

White tailed spiders are known to feed obligatorily on other spiders, especially the black house spider, and can be found almost anywhere in a house or other rural building. They are most likely to roam at night and can drop down from the ceiling onto beds.

Recent toxicological reports have cast strong doubts about the ability of white-tailed spiders to cause development of large areas of long-lasting skin ulceration when they bite humans.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Some other lamponid species.

Information and pictures on the White Tailed Spider kindly reproduced with permission from Dr Ron Atkinsons Find a Spider Guide for Spiders of Southern QLD

St. Andrews Cross

Fact Box Species: Argiope keyserlingi (QM) Previous species name: Argiope aetheria Family: Araneidae formerly Argiopidae Body length: female: 14 mm male: 5 mm Habitat: This spider builds a roughly circular web between the branches of small shrubs and typically clings to the underside of this web with a pair of legs on each arm of a white cross of silk in the centre of the web; the male usually builds a small web close to that of the female Toxicity: This spider is rather timid and non-aggressive and is assumed to be virtually harmless to humans; it is very common yet very few human bitings by it are on record

Stabilimentum Egg sac, spiderlings Underneath female Male and female The male Juvenile and web

The common name of this species is derived from its habit of producing and resting on a stabilimentum, which is a cross of serrated (zigzag) silk. In one season an adult female will produce several leaf-like, green egg sacs, these being attached to a wall or tree trunk in close proximity to the web.

Males lack the bright colours of the females and are much smaller. Juveniles are also pale and reside on very small circular webs which can often be found in quite large numbers.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Argiope picta and Argiope magnifica.

Information and pictures on the St Andrews Cross Spider kindly reproduced with permission from Dr Ron Atkinsons Find a Spider Guide for Spiders of Southern QLD

Black house spider

Fact Box Species: Badumna insignis (JS) Note: This species is difficult to distinguish from B. longinqua Previous species name: Ixeuticus robustus Family: Desidae formerly Amaurobiidae Body length: female: 17 mm male: 8 mm Habitat: In a web built into crevices in walls; also found under loose tree bark but the entrance always has webbing visible before the bark is lifted Toxicity: Uncertain; may cause mild illness

The web Spiderlings & eggs A different species? Under female

This spider is often called the black house spider or window spider because it frequently builds webs in the crevices around doors and windows. Note that it does not normally establish itself inside buildings. It is said to be a favourite food of the white-tailed spider, Lampona murina.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Badumna longinqua.

Information and pictures on the Black House Spider kindly reproduced with permission from Dr Ron Atkinsons Find a Spider Guide for Spiders of Southern QLD

Golden orb-weaver

Fact Box Species: Nephila edulis (JS) Family: Nephilidae formerly Araneidae then Tetragnathidae Body length: female: 23 mm male: 6 mm Habitat: In a large yellow web strung between dead tree branches or onto electricity poles; the males tend to occupy the edge of the female's web Toxicity: Not aggressive (the spider normally runs to the top of the web when alarmed) and not considered very toxic but able to cause necrotising arachnidism

Female, close up Male and female Male, close up Egg mass

This species exhibits striking sexual dimorphism, the small male often waiting on the periphery of the web. An important characteristic of the female is the present of black brushes along the legs.

The web is remarkably strong and has a characteristic yellow colour as does the fluffy egg sac which tends to be left in the tree the spider was using for support. Nephila webs normally contain a string of debris masses which are the remains of insects the spider has eaten. The tendency to produce such a string is rare among orb weaver species so this is a useful identification feature.

In many parts of south-east Queensland this species is present in very large numbers, especially throughout the warmer months of the year. It is common for a single dead tree to have as many as 30 individual golden orb-weaver webs attached to it.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Nephila plumipes and Nephila pilipes

Information and pictures on the Golden Orb Weaver Spider kindly reproduced with the kind permission of Dr Ron Atkinsons Find a Spider Guide for Spiders of Southern QLD