WHITE TAILED SPIDER

FACT FILE - 009

Family

Lamponidae

Species

Lampona cylindrata
(L. Koch, 1866)

Body Length

Female: Up to 20mm
Male: 12mm

Habitat

In crevices and under bark. Often found in houses and beds.

Toxicity

May cause initial mild to burning pain followed by swelling and itching. recent studies indicate the White-tailed spider bites are very unlikely to cause necrotic ulcers.

Click on images to enlarge.

WHITETAIL

Female

0096

Female

0095

Female epigyne.

malelampona

Male

palps

Male showing palps and fangs

0091

Juvenile

There has been considerable research into the venom from this spider. It was always considered that the bite from the white tailed spider caused necrotising arachnidism, an ulcerating sore which was very difficult to heal. The latest research would indicate that this is not the case but it is rather the result of other germs which are introduced into the wound which cause the ulceration.