White-Tail Spider Identification Melbourne
Identify white-tail spiders — wandering hunters with a distinctive white tip.
White-Tail Spider in Melbourne — Quick Answer
White-tail spiders are common wandering hunters found in Melbourne homes. They are 15–20 mm in body length with a dark, cigar-shaped body and a distinctive white or cream patch at the tip of the abdomen. White-tails do not build webs — they actively hunt other spiders inside homes. Bites cause localised pain and red marks but are not known to cause skin necrosis. T47 Pest Control reduces white-tail spider populations by treating their prey species and sealing entry points.
How to Identify White-Tail Spider
Size
15–20 mm body length
Colour
Dark grey to dark brown, cigar-shaped body with a white or cream spot at the tip of the abdomen
Behaviour
Wandering hunter (no web); preys on other spiders, especially black house spiders; nocturnal; enters homes
Habitat
Inside homes — in bedding, clothing on floors, towels, shoes; outdoors under bark and rocks
Look-Alikes & Confusion Notes
Can be confused with ground spiders or some wolf spiders. The white abdominal tip is the key identifier. Juvenile white-tails may have additional white markings along the body that fade in adults.
Risk & Urgency
Moderate. White-tail spider bites cause localised pain, redness, and sometimes mild swelling. Despite widespread fear, research has not confirmed that white-tail bites cause necrotising skin ulcers. Seek medical advice if bitten.
Where Found in Melbourne
White-tail spiders are common across all Melbourne suburbs. They enter homes throughout the year, particularly at night when hunting black house spiders and other web-building species inside walls and rooms.
What to Do Now
Shake out clothing left on floors, check bedding and towels, and wear gloves when gardening. Reducing other spider populations inside the home removes the food source that attracts white-tails. Contact T47 Pest Control for comprehensive spider treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do white-tail spider bites cause skin ulcers?
- Current medical research does not support the claim that white-tail bites cause necrotising skin ulcers. Most bites cause localised pain, redness, and mild swelling that resolves within days. However, any spider bite that becomes infected should receive medical attention.
- Where do white-tail spiders hide in homes?
- White-tail spiders hide in folds of clothing, inside shoes, in bedding, behind furniture, and in bathroom towels. They are wandering hunters and do not stay in one location, making them hard to predict.