White-tailed Spider
Lampona spp.
A slender, dark hunting spider with a white tip on its abdomen that wanders indoors at night. Research has not supported the belief that its bite causes flesh-eating ulcers.
- Size
- 12–18 mm body
- Marking
- White tip on abdomen
- Necrosis myth
- Not supported by research
- Hunts
- Other spiders
Questions about the White-tailed Spider
How to identify a White-tailed Spider
Identification
- Body about 12–18 mm, cigar-shaped, dark grey to black.
- White or pale spot at the tip of the abdomen.
Where it lives
- Under bark and leaf litter, inside homes in bedding, clothes and towels left on the floor.
Behaviour
- Hunts other spiders, especially black house spiders.
- Wanders indoors at night, particularly in warmer months.
Why it matters
Bites may cause local pain, redness and itching.
A published study of confirmed bites found no cases of necrotic ulcers; see a doctor about any wound that is worsening.
More questions about spiders
All spider questions →Other spider species
Redback Spider
Latrodectus hasselti
A small, medically significant Australian spider found in dry, sheltered spots around homes. The female’s bite can cause severe pain and illness, and medical advice should be sought.
Huntsman Spider
Family Sparassidae
Large, flat, fast-moving spiders that hunt insects on walls and under bark. They are alarming to many people but are not considered dangerous.
Spider guides
How to Pest-Proof Your Home
A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.
GuideCommon Brisbane Household Pests
A Brisbane-specific overview of the pests residents meet most often, when they are active, and what the subtropical climate, storms, creeks and Queenslander homes mean for pest pressure.
GuidePest Prevention Checklist
A printable seasonal checklist of simple, low-cost tasks that reduce pests around Australian homes, with the reason behind each step and extra lists for renters, apartment residents, pet owners and Queenslander owners.
Spiders by location
More about spiders
Spiders
Eight-legged predators that feed on insects. Most household spiders are harmless and useful, but a few Australian species, such as redbacks and funnel-webs, need to be treated with care.
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Sources & further reading
- Australian Museum — insects and spiders — Australian Museum
- healthdirect — bites, stings and infection information — healthdirect Australia
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