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The Australian White-tailed Spider - A Deadly Venomous Creature?

  • Denis MacGillivray
  • Sep 19, 2022
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 20

The Australian White-tailed spider (relevant Australian species include Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina) is native to Australia and was introduced to New Zealand, where it has become widespread throughout the North and South Islands since 1980. It is a standard Australian spider, particularly abundant in the Central Coast and Port Macquarie Regions. Interestingly, White-tailed Spiders attract interest due to myths about their bites, but they are not as dangerous as commonly believed.

White-tailed spider display set on cream background
Male white-tailed spider specimen on display in the Australian Museum, by Tony Hudson licenced under CC BY-SA 3.0.au
Close-up of a black spider with red legs on a white surface. Water droplets are visible on its body, creating a shiny appearance.
Australian White-tailed spider: Face detail with fangs, by Sylke Rohrlach, licenced under CC BY-SA 4.0
Close-up of a dark brown spider with reddish legs on a white surface. Background is blurred, highlighting the spider's details.
White-tailed spider in a glass jar. The specimen is approximately 15mm in length by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos, licenced under GFDL v1.2

Where does the Australian White-tailed spider live

In the outdoors, white tails are mostly found under logs, bark and leaf litter. In searching for their spider prey, they often venture into homes where they can end up between linen, towels and in shoes, thereby potentially coming into contact with humans.


What do they eat

White-tailed spiders are nomadic vagrant spiders (non-webbing) that actively search and prey on other spiders, including their kind. The preferred prey is webbing spiders, such as Black-house, Curtain-Web, and Red-back spiders. Prey is predominantly hunted at night, and when caught, they subdue the prey by injecting venom through their fangs.


Are they dangerous?

These spiders have a reputation that is undeservedly bad. Terrible stories abound of necrotic symptoms and limbs being amputated after being bitten by white tails. This all started around the 1980s and was fueled by myths and misinformation. In effect, white tails are not aggressive and only mildly venomous. To date, there have been no human fatalities directly linked to White tail spider bites. Most bites happen accidentally when they are startled, and the bite is usually no more painful than a bee sting. Bites typically cause localised redness, itchiness and mild swelling, with most of the effects wearing off within 24 hours. When bitten, it's best to clean the bite site and apply an ice pack to reduce the swelling. Secondary infections can occur through excessive scratching and generally poor hygiene. Anaphylactic shock has been observed in some bite victims.


Should I keep the Aussie White-tailed spider around?

It’s generally not necessary to keep White-tailed Spiders (Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina) around, but they do have some benefits in nature. Whether or not you should tolerate them in your home depends on your comfort level and the specific circumstances.


White tails are beneficial to have around and should not be purposefully targeted. A regular general pest treatment of your home will take care of their spider prey and, in so doing, limit the White tail's need to enter your home. Keeping the outside walls of your house clear of encroaching vegetation will also help to keep them away.


Where can I find more information?

There are many internet sites on White tails, including:

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