Funnel weaver spiders Agelenidae, closely resemble wolf spiders because they have the same stripe on their cephalothorax and abdomen. They can usually be distinguished from wolf spiders because wolf spiders do not build webs. Funnel weavers are also usually lighter in build than wolf spiders and have elongated spinnerets. Many common funnel weaver are also characterized by […]
Woodlouse Hunter
Dysdera crocata (the woodlouse hunter), together with its preferred foods – woodlice, has been transported over much of the planet. Dysdera also feeds on beetles. These spiders have very large chelicerae, which they use to pierce the armoured bodies of woodlice and beetles. There are also some reports that they have a mildly toxic venom that can cause […]
Scorpion Spider
On this page, you can find some information as well as Scorpion/Flat Rock spider photos. This species is typically brown to black in colour to match the bark it hides under. It has a flattened body with an elongate oval abdomen from which two pairs of wide-set spinnerets can be seen from above. The legs curve […]
Bird Eating Spider
The Bird Eating Spider is one of Australia’s largest spiders belonging to the Trapdoor family. Trapdoor spiders include the Funnel-web, Mouse, Whistling/Bird Eating/Barking, 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 […]
Giant House Spider
Giant House Spider (Eratigena atrica). Tegenaria duellica/gigantea and T. saeva were synonymized with T. atrica and moved to the new genus Eratigena as of August, 2013. Eratigena is an anagram of the genus name Tegenaria (Bolzern et al. 2013). The specific epithet, atrica, is formed from atri- after the Latin noun for “atrium” with the addition of the -ica suffix meaning “belonging to” (often used when referring […]
A Reader’s Spider Photos
Here are some nice photos sent in by one of my readers. I’ll try and ID the ones I know but there are a few different ones there that I am not familiar with. If you can help with an ID please email me. Click the photos for a larger view and ID. Thank you […]
Orb Weaver
There are many types of “Orb web” spiders, in fact any spider that spins an orb-shaped web may be classified as an “orb web weaver”. These include the Golden Orb-weaver spiders, St Andrew’s Cross spiders, Wraparound spiders and many garden spiders. The female Golden Orb-weaver may be as large as 45mm but the male is […]
Tree Trunk Spider
Tree trunk spiders belong to the Family Hersiliidae. There are about 150 species in this family and many more undiscovered. . Female Tree Spiders are around 19mm in body length from its chelicerae to the tip of its spinnerets. When her legs stretched out, its longest legs can reach 45mm. They range in size from about 10 […]
Black House Spider – Badumna insignis
The Black House (or window) spider is found in most of Australia including Tasmania and has been introduced into New Zealand. It likes dry temperature and is more common inland. The Scientific name for the Black House spider is Badumna Insignis. The description of the Female is up to 18mm long and the Male is […]
Daring Jumping Spiders
The Daring Jumping Spider, Phidippus audax, is commonly found in gardens and homes. In the garden they can be found on tree trunks, fallen leaves and in ground debris and in homes where they wander in search of prey. They are often seen near windowsills and doorjambs. Daring jumping spiders are large, with males growing […]