The animal which most biologists call “daddy-long-legs”, is a spider, Pholcus phalangioides, which belongs to the spider family Pholcidae, order Araneida, class Arachnida. Pholcid spiders are araneomorph spiders which kill and digest their prey using venom. However there is no scientific basis for the urban myth that daddy-long-legs are the most venomous, poisonous or toxic spiders […]
Nursery Web Spider
Nursery Web spiders – (Pisaurina sp. Family Pisauridae) – These spiders resemble the wolf spiders (Lycosidae), but have a different eye pattern. Pisaurids have their eyes arranged in 2 rows, the posterior row slightly recurved, the median eyes in the second row slighly (if any) larger than the others. (Wolf spiders have eyes arranged in 3 rows). The […]
White Tailed Spider
The White Tailed Spider (Lampona cylindrata) is about the size of a 50c piece when fully grown, with a leg diameter about the size of a pin. It has a grey cigar-shaped abdomen with a white spot on the end and sometimes the legs are banded with light traverse marks on the abdomen. These markings […]
Funnel-Web Spider
The Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus) is believed to be limited to an area of about 160 kilometres from the centre of Sydney. Other species of Funnel-Web Spider are found in Eastern Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. They are probably the most venomous aggressive spider in the world, all funnel web species should be […]
Spider Closeup Photos
Here’s some great close-up photos sent in by viewers. Click each image for a larger view. Many thanks for allowing us to use the photos sent in. All photos are copyright to their owners and may not be reproduced without permission. I came across some beautiful closeups on Facebook from Kevin Weiner who has given me permission […]
Jewelled Spider
The Jewelled Spider is also known by its Latin name – Austracantha Minax, meaning “threatening and projecting”. They are also known as spiny orb weavers and are part of the orb weaving spider family and found throughout Australia. This spider’s body is very broad and grows to the size of a 20c piece, with its 8 […]
Spiders in Amber
Here’s some photos of spiders found in amber. Viewers are invited to send in their photos. Some of the photos are from the Chiapas highlands near the town of Simojovelamber. Chiapas amber is between 22 million and 26 million years old and comes from the resin of the Hymenaea Leguminoseae tree. More information on spiders in […]
Common Spiders USA
This page provides an overview of the most common spiders found in the United States. For a more detailed overview of spiders in the U.S. by state, check out USASpiders.com NOT DANGEROUS – i.e MAY BITE BUT NOT LIFE THREATENING All spiders can and will bite if in danger or accidentally touched e.g. in shoes […]
Spitting Spider
The Spitting Spider (Latin name Scytodes thoricica) belongs to the family of six eyed spiders. (Haplogynae). It is called the “Spitting Spider” because it spits a poisonous sticky substance over its prey. Its body size ranges between 3 and 6 mm. They catch their prey by spitting a fluid that immobilizes it by congealing on contact into […]
Leaf Curling Spider
The full size of a Leaf Curling Spider is the size of a 50 cent piece. The size of one leg is like a pin. They have a brown body and a creamy yellow abdomen and pale markings. The scientific name for the Leaf Curling Spider is Phonognatha graeffei. Normally the female’s size is about 8mm and […]