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PESTS:
WHITE
TAILED SPIDERS
 There
are about a dozen different species of
White-Tailed spiders living in Australia,
and are found right across the southern
half of the country.
Where
do you find them?
- White-Tailed
spiders are nomadic, living both in and
outdoors. They live under rocks, bark,
leaf litter etc., when outdoors, but
will move indoors from spring through
autumn. While living indoors they will
hide in any nook or cranny, often
favouring clothes left lying on the
floor, bedclothes, curtain rods,
cupboards, bathrooms and
laundries.
What
do they look like?
- They
have cigar shaped bodies, with the male
being narrow and a length of 12mm and
the female fatter with a body length of
18-25mm.
- The
body colouring varies from grey to dark
reddish-brown or even
black.
- They
have two pairs of faint white spots on
either side of the abdomen and a white
spot on the tip.
- They
have smooth, glossy legs with a dark
reddish tint and orange-brown bands
around them.
- They
have fine hairs on the ends of their
legs enabling them to walk on smooth or
sloping surfaces.
Habits
- They
are not bound by webs, and hunt relying
on swift movement to catch their
prey.
- Other
spiders are their favourite food, and
they have been known to eat Daddy
Long-Legs, Redback, Curtain-Web and
Black House spiders.
- They
make temporary silk retreats and spin
disc-shaped egg sacs which contain as
many as 90 eggs.
- Because
they do not remain in webs, the only
way you know that they are about is
when you see the spiders
themselves.
Do
they bite?
- They
are not aggressive, but will bite if
provoked.
- Their
bites cause varying symptoms dependent
on the individual reaction to the
poison. These symptoms may include
localised burning, stinging, swelling,
an itchy lump, blistering, ulceration,
nausea and vomiting.
- Bites
from these spiders have been reported
to cause necrosis (decomposition of the
skin). This has only been verified in
14 spider bites over the past 10 years,
and none of the victims could confirm
the type of spider responsible. This
reaction is considered to be rare.
However, bacteria on the fangs of the
spiders may cause severe infection or
other allergic reactions. If bitten,
wash the wound with disinfectant and
apply an ice-pack. If there is no sign
of improvement after 2 hours, seek
medical attention.
How
to avoid White-Tailed
spiders
- Catch
and remove any you see, and destroy any
webs of the spiders they eat. If you
know there are any in your house, do
not leave clothes lying on the floor
and check bed clothes and shake out
clothes and shoes before putting them
on. Spraying the spiders with the
correct spray will kill them, but
because they are nomadic, after a time,
when the pesticide wears off, you will
find more.
ALWAYS
TRY TO CATCH THE SPIDER RESPONSIBLE AND
KEEP IT FOR IDENTIFICATION
PURPOSES.
What kind of
spider is it?
Redback
Spider
| Brown
House
Spider
| White
Tailed
Spider
| Huntsman
Spider
| Mouse
Spider
| Wolf
Spider
Our 25
years' experience ... your peace of
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Total
Pest Solutions
PO
Box 2083, South Plympton
South Australia. 5038.
Phone 1800 503 394
(08) 8297 4981
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