Spiders are predatory invertebrate animals that have two body segments, eithe legs, no chewing mouth parts and no wings.
All spiders produce silk, a thin, strong protein strand extruded by the spider from spinnerets most commonly found on the end of the abdomen. Many species use it to trap insects in webs, although there are also many species that hunt freely.
Black House Spider
The black house spider is a common species of Australian spider. It lives inmost areas of Australia and it prefers urban habitat. It’s web is a messy-looking construct of triangular sail-like shapes, usually streched in the corner of the walls, windows etc.
The black house spider is venomous, but is not considered dangerous to humans, except for possible infection of the bite. They are quite shy, only coming out of the nest to capture their prey, then quickly retreat.
Redback Spider
The redback spider is a potentially dangerous spider native to Australia. It is easily recognisable by its black body with prominent red stripe on its abdomen.
Redbacks are the most dangerous spiders in Australia. The redback spider has a neurotoxic venom which is toxic to humans with bites causing severe pain.
The redback web is an unorganised, irregular shape tangle of fine but strong silk. Redbacks usually prey on insects, but they can capture larger animals that become entangled in the web, including king crickets, trapdoor spiders and small lizards.
White-Tailed Spider
The white-tailed spider are medium-sized spiders from southern and eastern Australia, so named because of the whitish tips at the end of their abdomens.
The live in gardens and houses, beneath bark and rocks. They are able to walk on glass, due to specialised hairs on the end of their legs. Most active at night, they hunt for other spiders. they favoured prey is the black house spider.
Garden Wolf Spider
The garden wolf spider is named this way because of their method of hunting is to run down their prey. They are robust and agile hunters that rely on good eyesight to hunt, typically at night.
Garden wolf spiders are unique in carrying their eggs along with them in a round silken globe which they attach to the spinerettes at the end of the abdomen.
The garden wolf spider is not aggresive, but will inject venom freely if continually provoked. Though usually considered harmless to humans, its bite may be painful.
Garden wolf spiders can be found in a wide range of habitats, both coastal and inland. These include shrublands, woodland, wet coastal forest, slpine meadows and surburban gardens.
Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
The Sydney funnel-web spider is a venomous spider. This spider is one of the three most dangerous spiders int he world and are regarded by some to be the most dangerous.
They are attracted to water and hence often found in swimming pools where they have fallen while wandering. They also show up in garages and yards in surburbia.
Bites are most prevelant during summer and autumn when males leave the burrows in search of females. Bites are dangerous and can cause serious illness or death.
