The Two Spined spider (Poecilopachys Australasia) is a nocturnal spider. It is an immigrant from Australia and has been recorded in New Zealand since the early 1970s. The female, Poecilopachys Australasia is about 8 mm in length and when mature, has two white horn-like spines. Yellow and white bands and some red-brown markings are visible. Large body hairs […]
Quick Reference Guide
All spiders can and will bite if in danger or accidentally touched e.g. in shoes or clothing etc. Any spider bite can cause a reaction in a person who is susceptible, ranging from the severity of a bee or wasp sting type bite to those requiring hospitalisation and even death. Different people react in different ways, […]
Jewelled Spider
The Jewelled Spider is also known by its Latin name – Gasteracantha Minax, meaning “threatening and projecting”. They are also known as spiny orb weavers and are part of the orb weaving spider family. This spider’s body is very broad and grows to the size of a 20c piece, with its 8 legs being the length […]
Red and Black Spider
Red and Black Spider (Ambicodamus crinitus, Family: Nicodamidae) In summer, males leave their web, during daylight hours, and wander in search of females. This wandering habit often brings them indoors. Due to the red and black colour, the spider is often confused with the red-back spider and, as red is a common warning colour, the […]
Spider Web Photos
There are 2 types of spiders – the hunting spiders like the wolf spiders and tarantulas and the web spinning spiders like the Argiopes and Garden Orb Weavers. All spiders can spin silk but only the web spinning spiders spin webs for their homes. I have only included some of the best on this page. […]
Red-back Spider
Redback spiders (Latrodectus hasselti) belong to the Family Theridiidae, which is found worldwide. The notorious Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus sp) of the United States is a close relative of the Redback Spider, and only differs in appearance by the absence of a red dorsal stripe.The Redback is found in all parts of Australia except in the hottest deserts […]
Brazilian Wandering Spider
Phoneutria spp. is actually a genus with five known similar species whose members are highly venomous. They include some of the relatively few species of spiders that present a threat to human beings. The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria fera) can grow to have a leg span of up to 4-5 inches. These spiders are notorious both due to […]
Comb Foooted Spider
Theridiidae is a large family of spiders, also known as the tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders. The diverse family includes over 2200 species in over 100 genera)of three-dimensional space-web-builders found throughout the world. Theridiid spiders are entelegyne (have a genital plate in the female) araneomorph ecribellate (use sticky capture silk instead of woolly […]
Mouse Spider
The Mouse Spider is a member of the Trapdoor family. Trapdoor spiders include the Funnel-web, Mouse, Whistling, and Curtain-web spiders; they are distinguished by the stocky body, long leg-like palps, and two knee-like lobes to which the fangs join (chelicerae) in front. Most live in burrows with or without trapdoors in the ground, but some live […]
Parson Spider
The parson spider is a nuisance in homes and is generally nontoxic; although some people may experience allergic reactions to the bites. The parson spider is about 1/2 inch long and may vary in colour from brown to black. The front segment of the body tends to be a chestnut colour, while the abdomen is […]