White-tailed Spider Facts and Fictions

Here are some Facts and ‘Fictions’ about white-tailed spiders in New Zealand.

Facts

• White-tailed spiders are two closely related species (Lampona cylandrata and L. murina) originating in southern and eastern Australia. Both species have been accidentally brought to New Zealand.
• White-tails are nocturnal hunting spiders that do not spin a web to catch prey but actively search for and catch their prey.
• They feed on other spiders and prefer grey house spiders.
• Females can have a body length up to 18 mm while males grow to 12 mm.
• They get their common name from a white spot on their abdomen just above the spinnerets. As juveniles they have white spots on the sides of the abdomen.
• White-tail spider legs are red/orange and bodies are reddish to grey.
• They produce silk from the spinnerets which they use to encase their eggs in a silk capsule.
• The natural habitat of white-tailed spiders is beneath leaf litter, bark and logs. In homes they seek similar places such as in shoes, amongst clothes and bed linen etc. This is how people are often bitten.
• The bite of white-tailed spiders cause pain, burning sensation, raised red swellings and itching. Rarely the bites can cause nausea, tiredness and headache.
• If you get bitten by a spider:
  • Wash the bite site to prevent infection.
  • Apply a cold compress such as ice, but not directly on the skin.
  • Raise the bite area.
  • Seek medical attention if bite swelling does not subside or other symptoms occur.

Fictions

• The white-tailed spider bite venom causes necrotic ulceration.
  Studies have shown this is not the case. Ulceration after white-tailed spider bites is likely to be caused by infection of the bite site.
• White-tailed spiders get venom from daddy long-legged spiders.
  The daddy long-leg spider venom is more toxic than white-tail venom and it is this daddy long leg spider venom that causes ulceration. There is no evidence for this.
• White-tailed spiders eat daddy long leg spiders.
  It may happen occasionally, but although the small bodied, spindly legged daddy long-legs don’t look a match for the more powerful looking white-tails, the daddy long-legs can wrap the white-tail up in silk using its long legs so as to not get too close. Once wrapped the daddy long legs can bite the white-tail and feed on it safely. Google or search YouTube with ‘White-tailed Spider vs. Daddy Long-legs’ if you don’t believe it.
• Having other spiders around the house means there are no white-tailed spiders.
  No, this just means that the white-tails have not eaten all the other spiders……..yet.

 How to Get Rid White-tailed Spiders and Other Spiders

• Download the 1-2-3 Spider Control Programme
• Watch the video on How to Get of Spiders and Their Webs
• How to Deal With Spiders in Vehicles
• Check out how to identify bite marks here

David Brittain
Kiwicare