White-Tail Spiders in Melbourne: Are They Dangerous?

White-tail spiders are the spiders Melbourne families most often find inside: in the bedroom, in a towel, or in clothes left on the floor. They have a scary reputation, but the science says their bite is far less dangerous than most people think. Here’s how to recognise them, why they come inside, and how to keep them out.

White-tail spider: long cigar-shaped grey body with a pale tip and banded legs.

How to identify a white-tail spider

• Body: a long, cigar-shaped, dark grey to reddish-grey body, about 12 mm (male) to 18 mm (female).
• White tip: a pale white spot at the end of the abdomen, which gives them their name.
• Legs: dark orange-brown, banded legs.
• No web: white-tails don’t build webs. They wander at night hunting other spiders.

The two species most often found in homes are Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina.

Why white-tails come inside

White-tails are hunters, and their favourite food is other spiders, including black house spiders, daddy long-legs and even redbacks. So if you have lots of web-building spiders around the windows and eaves, white-tails follow them in. They’re most active at night and like to hide in:

• Bedding, pillows and doonas, especially on beds pushed against a wall
• Towels and clothes left on the floor or bathroom
• Curtains, shoes and laundry baskets
• Under bark, rocks, leaf litter and garden mulch outside

Are white-tail bites dangerous?

The old story that white-tail bites cause flesh-eating ulcers has been tested and doesn’t hold up. A study of 130 confirmed white-tail bites, where the spider was caught and identified, found no cases of ulcers or confirmed infection (Medical Journal of Australia, 2003). Most bites cause a burning pain and sometimes a red, itchy lump that can last a while.

First aid for a white-tail bite is the same as for most spider bites:

• Wash the bite with soap and water and apply antiseptic.
• Use an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.
• See a doctor if the bite doesn’t settle, gets worse after 24–48 hours, or you’re worried.

For advice, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. In an emergency, call 000. More information is on healthdirect.

How we get white-tails out of your home

Because white-tails follow their food, the best control is to treat the spiders they hunt and the places they hide. Our spider control treatment includes:

• A free entry-point inspection, with photos of where pests are getting in
• An inside spray along skirting boards, cornices, window frames and wardrobes (if you empty them)
• A long-lasting residual spray outside around eaves, windows, doors, fences, decking and garden edges
• Roof void dusting and, where accessible, subfloor dusting

Everyone, including children, babies and pets, can come back inside 2 hours after the indoor treatment. The treatment comes with a written 14-day and 12-month pest-free guarantee, subject to our guarantee terms.

Keeping white-tails out of the bedroom

• Pull beds a few centimetres away from the wall and keep doonas off the floor.
• Pick clothes and towels up off the floor, and shake them out before use.
• Fit draught stoppers and fix gaps around windows and doors.
• Keep garden mulch and leaf litter away from the walls of the house.
• Reduce web-building spiders around the house with a yearly spider treatment.

White-tail spider FAQs

Do white-tail spider bites cause flesh-eating ulcers?

No. Research on 130 confirmed white-tail bites found no ulcers or confirmed infections. A bite can be painful and may leave a red, itchy lump, but if a wound is getting worse, see a doctor, because something else is likely to be the cause.

Why do I keep finding white-tails inside?

They hunt other spiders, so homes with lots of black house spiders and daddy long-legs attract them. Treating the spiders they feed on is the best way to reduce them.

Do white-tails make webs?

No. They roam at night looking for other spiders to eat, which is why they turn up in beds, towels and clothes rather than in webs.

Is the spider treatment safe for kids and pets?

Yes, when the re-entry time is followed. Everyone, including children, babies and pets, can come back inside 2 hours after the indoor treatment. If you’re pregnant or have a medical, allergy or breathing condition, talk to your technician first.

Finding white-tails in the house? Call 1800 38 66 55 or request a free quote. We service all of Greater Melbourne, 7 days. Seeing redbacks too? Read our redback spider guide.