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White tail spider
Lampona sp
-37.8932, 145.308
Field Notes
Description:
a black spider about 15mm long. Legs have pale brown bands but what makes them stand out, and gives them their name is the white patch at the posterior tip of the abdomen. A pair of pale white markings on either side of the midline are found on the dorsal surface of the abdomen.
The first two pairs of legs are usually pointed forwards.
Habitat:
gardens, houses - anywhere where their prey the red-back, house spider or daddy-long legs are found. These are endemic to Australia
Notes:
The bite of the white tail spider is said to be painful with some bad side-effects. It is often blamed for the necrosis of the tissue around the bite however, recent research has indicated that the necrosis could be due to secondary infection of the bite.
White tail spiders are often found inside homes, amongst bed clothes and washing off the line. The advice given to keep these spiders away is to get rid of the white tail spiders' prey -all house spiders, red-backs and daddy long legs!! - I don't really like them... but these photos show them eating a pholcid ( daddy long legs) the kind that attacks every other insect or spider.
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