Huntsman Spider

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae)

Where: I found this huntsman spider in my garage, on the Gold Coast running under my moms car.

Size: Huntsman spiders can grow up to 30cms which is about the size of my school ruler. Very big! This one was about 10cm and is a female because she is carrying her eggs.

 

Venom / Bite: Huntsman spiders use venom to immobilise prey and to assist in digestion. They have been known to inflict defensive bites, but are not widely regarded as dangerous to healthy humans.

Grass Spider - Funnel Weaver Spider

Grass Spider or Funnel Weaver Spider (Agelenidae) 

Where: I found the Grass Spider funnel webs all over  a grassed areas near our house in Bonogin.

What type of web? The Grass Spider weaves a web with a funnel in it where the spider waits to pounce on it prey.

Where: I also found the Funnel Weaver Spider making a web on one of our day beds near our house.

Size: This Grass Weaver spider was about 1/2 the size of my finger, about 6 mm. Which means it is most likely a male spider because male spiders grow to 8mm where as females grow to 19mm.

This photo shows the Grass Weaver spider waiting to pounce on any bugs that get caught in the web.

Venom / Bite: They will only bite if provoked, and are not considered dangerous. Their venom is hemotoxic but is much less than severe than the Brown Recluse. The most common symptoms are local swelling, redness and itching. 

This video shows the Funnel Weaver spider with a bug in its fangs, and what looks like a spider displaying an electrical light from it bottom or abdomen to attract the bug. Could be a very special event! 

To check out a much clearer version of the video on youtube click here 
after verification from the natural history bug forum it is more likely that the light is coming from sunlight reflected off the web.

Orb Weaver Garden Spider

Orb Weaver Garden Spider - Eriophora transmarina

Where: I found the Orb Weaver spider spinning a web in my garden on the bamboo.

Size: The Orb Weaver spider was about the same size as my finger which is 12mm. This means the Orb Weaver spider was either a male or a baby because male Orb Weaver spiders only grow to about 15-17mm.

Venom: The orb weaver spiders bite is not dangerous to humans but may induce mild, local pain, redness, and occasionally swelling for a period of 30 minutes up to three to four hours.

Redback Spider

Red-back - Latrodectus hasseltii, family Theridiidae 

Where: I found this baby spider in our media room. It span a web in the corner of the room.

How big are they?: Female Redback spiders normally grow to 7 mm. But this one is about the size of the tip of my finger. About 3-4mm

Venom / Bite: Potentially fatal. Only females are known to bite, with a sharp nip followed at varying time intervals by increasing pain and localised patches of sweating. Results of bites are highly variable: the spider has full control over venom dosage and some bites may be "dry", i.e., venom-free defensive bites.
The venom is latrotoxin, which is effective against most animals.

My daddy said that they are preyed upon by Daddy-long-legs and Giant Daddy-long-legs spiders.

Daddy Long Legs

Daddy Long Legs

Where: This Daddy Long Legs would found in my garage.

St Andrews Cross Spider

St Andrews Cross Spider, Argiope keyserlingi

Where: In my house on the pantry window. The spider was there for 2 weeks.

How big?: It was bigger than my mouth, about 10 mm which means it must be female spider, because female spiders are normally 10-14mm. Males are smaller 5 mm.

Venomous: This spider is rather timid and non-aggressive and is assumed to be virtually harmless to humans; it is very common yet very few human bitings by it are on record.

The Black House Spider

Where: I found this fantastic chunky spider near the side of our house.

My great Aunt and I encouraged the spider onto the stick so we could take a photo.

How Big is the spider? 8mm which means it was a male spider. The female spiders are normally 17 mm.

Toxicity/ Venomous: Uncertain, may cause mild illness