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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Being cautious while approaching all spiders with hands off and understanding about spiders may save your life one day. We tend to destroy every creeping creature we come across, but sometimes these so called pests have an important part to play in the world around us. Make sure you know what you are doing before you go into combat against these creatures.
******************** ORB WEAVING SPIDERS Garden Orb Weaving Spider: Eriophora (Araneidae) Banded Orb Weaving Spider: Argiope (Araneidae) Golden Orb Weaving Spider: Nephila (Tetragnathidae) Humped or Silver Orb Weaving Spider: Leucauge (Tetragnathidae) WHERE TO FIND THEM Orb weaving spiders can be found throughout Australia. Common Garden Orb Weavers are Eriophora biapicata and E. transmarina from eastern and southern Australia. A common Argiope is the St. Andrew's Cross Spider, A. keyserlingi of eastern Australia. Golden Orb Weavers are located in dry open forest, woodlands, coastal sand dunes,woody shrub lands and mangrove areas, with Nephila edulis and N. plumipes being the two species found in the Sydney region. The Humped or Silver Orb Weaver, Leucauge, is often found amongst and under vegetation in moist forest and woodland habitats, including along side stream and in swampland vegetation. All orb weaving spiders create suspended, sticky, wheel shaped orb webs. They establish their webs in openings between trees and shrubs where insects are most likely to fly. =========================================== Garden Orb Weavers build large, strong, vertical orb webs. Normally, these spiders assemble their webs in the evenings and then they take them down again at dawn.The spider will rest head-down in the centre of the web, waiting for it?s victim to become entrapped. Throughout the day time, the spider rests on nearby foliage with its legs drawn under the body. They feed upon flying insects such as flies, beetles and bugs (including large prey like cicadas), which are common prey. The common predators of these spiders are birds such as honey eaters. IDENTIFICATION Most of these spiders are stout, reddish-brown or grey with a leaf-shaped pattern on their fat, roughly triangular abdomens, which also have two noticeable humps towards the front. Sometimes they have a dorsal stripe which may be white or brown edged with white. The female grows to 2-3 cm and the male 1.5-2 cm in body length. REPRODUCTION The lifespan of this species of spider is about twelve months. The female lays her eggs in late summer to autumn and the eggs are encased in a fluffy silken cocoon which are fastened to foliage. They develop in summer, mate, lay their eggs, and die in late summer-autumn the following year. During autumn, the spiderlings scatter by ballooning (ascending on the breeze using minute silk strands as "balloons"), and then they construct their own tiny orb webs among underbrush. =========================================== Banded Orb-weaving SpiderWhen an insect flies into the web the spider rushes out and immediately and pours large amount of silks onto its victim. After the insect is entangled with silk thread and its movement is limited, then the spider holds its prey with its eight legs, rotated like a wheel with the spider itself hanging from the wheel, while putting more silks onto the it. IDENTIFICATION Banded Orb-weaving Spiders sometimes may be confused with St Andrew's Cross Spiders. They look similar although the pattern on their abdomen are quite different. Banded Orb-weaving Spider females have yellow, white and brown colours bands across their abdomen. However, their males are look the same, much smaller than the female. The female from leg to leg is50mm and the male 10mm. Banded Orb-weaving Spiders build vertical orb web and active both day and night. This spider makes stabilimentum on their web, but will not always make it like a cross. Stabilimentum is a crisscross band of silk through the centre of the web. REPRODUCTION From late summer to early winter, females build egg sacs near their web and are suspended among the leaves. =========================================== Golden Orb Weavers build sizable, semi-permanent orb webs of strong silk, which has a golden sheen. These spiders remain in their webs night and day to aquire some protection from bird attack.
The fine network of webbing helps to camouflage the spider. The web is so strong that occasionally they manage to trap small birds or bats, and the spider will wrap them and feed upon them. They feed upon flies, beetles,locusts, wood moths and cicadas. The picture on the right is of a female Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila spp.)  Note the size of the spider compared to the Australian five cent coin on the top left hand side of the picture. This spider is quite common around Adelaide and very common throughout the Flinders Ranges.
IDENTIFICATION These are large spiders (body 2-4 cm) with silvery-grey to plum coloured bodies and brown-black, often with yellow banded legs. The males are tiny (5 mm) and red-brown to brown in colour. If you observe closely at the web you will probably sight the male living on the same web. He is likely to be living on the opposite side of the web to the female so he can mate through the web in reasonable safety. Any insects that are caught are wrapped in silk then hung in a line and eaten later. He also helps himself to food that the female hangs in a larder in her web. REPRODUCTION After mating, the female wraps her solitary egg sac in a mass of golden silk. She then hides it on vegetation away from the web. Besides attacks from several bird species, wasps from the family of Sphecidae are also predators of the spiders. These wasps descend on the web, tantalize the spider to the boundary by pretending to be a struggling insect's vibrations. Then the wasp carries the spider away to be paralysed and mummified as live food for their offspring. THEIR BITE Golden Orbs are not dangerous to humans and should only cause some pain and swelling which can be treated with a cold compress. =========================================== Humped Orb Weavers construct small frail, horizontal webs among shrubs and grasses or over water. They remain in their webs during the day and capture flies and other small insects.IDENTIFICATION The spiders are easily recognised by their silvery body, with yellow or green and black markings. The spiders abdomen often has rounded 'shoulder' humps which is where their common name derived from. These spiders have long bodies, and are long-limbed, with a body length of about 1 cm. THEIR BITE Orb weavers are unwilling to bite. Their symptoms are generally negligible or mild local pain, numbness and swelling. Occasionally nausea and dizziness can take place after a bite. Humped Orb Weavers have very small fangs and they are hesitant and reluctant to bite. Seek medical attention if symptoms continue. ******************** RED-BACK SPIDER (Latrodectus mactans hasselti)IDENTIFICATION
******************** HUNTSMAN SPIDER (Heteropodidae isopeda sp.)This is one of about 100 species of Huntsman Spiders that occur in South Australia. 
Roaming spiders such as Huntsman are best left alone if found in the garden, or removed from a house using a broom or a glass container. Huntsman are fast moving, but are not normally aggressive. These spiders can be alarming when they jump off walls to make their escape, or suddenly appear unexpectedly in front of you when you are driving your car. I always make sure that the car windows and doors are closed when the car is parked, particularly at night and especially when its left in the garage. If you find a spider in your car and you can?t retrieve it, try parking the car in a sunny position where it will get warm inside. Leave a window or two open and usually the spider will leave. IDENTIFICATION Huntsman Spiders are also called Crab Spiders, this is in reference to their ability to move sideways as well as forward. Being vagrant hunting spiders, Huntsmen do not spin a web but actively hunt for their prey, usually at night. WHERE TO FIND THEM They can regularly be found hunting for moths etc near lights and windows and may even find their way inside domestic dwellings. This group of spiders are generally flat which allows them to hide beneath loose bark on trees etc. The female will spin her white egg sack beneath bark, the egg sack is also flat and may be as large as a 20 cent piece. She will remain with the egg sack until ready to release the spiderlings. There may be as many as 200 eggs in the sack which hatch in the sack, the spiderlings first meal is the old egg shell, it is at this stage that the female will make a hole in the side of the egg sack and release her offspring. PREVENTION Always wear thick leather gloves when you are cleaning up rubbish in the garden. The majority of bites happen when the spider is cornered under clothing and pinned against the skin. Play it safe and look under or in areas that you suspect. Most bites generally occur on the hands and feet. Huntsman spiders may bite if handled but are not regarded as being dangerous to humans. They will however cause local pain and swelling which can in most cases be alleviated with a cold compress. ******************** JUMPING SPIDER (fam. Salticidae) 
(Photo on left taken by Justin Pope) Many of these are daylight hunters, where they use their excellent vision to chase after, stalk and estimate a distance, before suddenly springing onto their prey, propelled by their strong back legs. IDENTIFICATION These species are generally small in size up to 12 mm body length. The body is mostly small and variable in shape. Many species have a comparatively robust cephalothorax and an abdomen that is about the same size or of somewhat smaller. Their legs are short and stout, especially the first pair which curve forwards and have strong spines. The eyes are arranged in two rows along the hard upper 'shell' of the front part of a spider. Many are daylight hunters, using their excellent vision to track, stalk and calculate distance, before suddenly leaping on their prey, propelled by their strong back legs. Their first pair of legs are unusually large and are directed forwards. The usual body colours are grey, brown and black although some species have distinctive and colourful surface patterns. Salticids are usually found on leaves, tree trunks or any other surface where insects are likely to be found, including the outer walls of houses. REPRODUCTION They use silk to form egg sacs and retreats in leaves and under bark. Their web is not used to catch insects. These spiders jump quite large distances to seize nearby insects or to escape predators. ******************** WHITE - TAILED SPIDER (Lampona cylindrata.) IDENTIFICATION This small, white tailed spider can be found in most parts of Australia. It is easily identified by its dark grey elongated, body, (15 mm in length), cylindrical lemon pip shaped abdomen. 
Both sexes usually have a white stripe or spot just above the spinnerets on the tip of the abdomen. Their belly is velvety black with dirty white markings at the top of the abdomen. The legs are glossy with a dark reddish tint. The male spider has striped legs. WHERE TO FIND THEM There are about a dozen Australian species in the genus. They can be discovered indoors, inhabiting wardrobes, clothes left on the floor, shoes, bed clothes, bathrooms,laundries and behind curtains. It is normally nomadic, living in the garden under rocks, ground litter and other foliage and most active at night, living off small insects and other spiders. Their wandering characteritics lead them into our homes where they are most commonly discovered between Spring to late Autumn. White Tailed spiders are not web bound and intercept their prey by predation. They are hunters, which are swift moving and scurry away when disturbed. White Tailed spiders only bite if provoked and are not normally aggressive to humans. The symptoms of the spider bite vary according to specific reactions, normally causing a localised burning, stinging feeling followed by a variable illness. The symptoms may include an itchy lump, swelling, blistering, ulceration, nausea or vomiting. Infrequently the bacteria on the fangs of the White Tailed spider may bring about infection or different specific allergic reactions. PREVENTION Always wear thick leather gloves when you are cleaning up rubbish in the garden. The majority of bites occur when the spider is trapped under clothing and pinned against the skin. Play it safe and look under or in areas that you suspect. Check your clothing and shoes before putting them anywhere near your body. Be able to correctly identify the White Tailed spider and be mindful of the places in which they prefer to shelter. These spiders are most operative at night, so do not cast off clothes on the floor and be sure to shake them before putting them on. Check under the bed clothes before resting for the night. If you find them spray with an insecticide. But stand back as you spray them, just in case they fall on top of you. They may still bite before they die. TREATMENT OF THE BITE If bitten by a White Tailed spider the wound should be washed with a disinfectant, and if painful apply an ice pack or anaesthetic cream. The bite of this spider can definitely cause skin damage, and sometimes ulcers of at least one centimetre in diameter. Try to find the spider and collect in a glass jar. This can be used for bite identification if needed. Medical attention is recommended if the patient does not improve in 2-3 hours. ******************** THIS SECTION IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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