White Tail Spiders – All You Need to Know!

Last Updated: December 3, 2025

Gordon Reidy

spider control, Spider information

White tail spiders (Lampona spp.), sometimes call white tip spiders, are found across Australia. There are some 60 species of white tail spiders, but the two most common species are Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina. L. cylindrata is found south of a line from southeast Queensland across to Western Australia and L. murina is found all the way up the east coast from Victoria to northeast Queensland. However, the behaviour and appearance of the two difference species is very similar.

White Tail Spider Bite

White Tail Spider Bite Symptoms

The white tail spider is not aggressive and will only bite if threatened or by accident – for example if you come up against it under bed sheets!

The white tail spider bite is actually less severe than those of a redback and probably more similar to a bee sting – there is an immediate burning sensation, followed by mild swelling and an itchy red mark. There is no antivenom for a white tail spider bite (but neither is it required).

White Tail Spider Bite Necrosis?

The idea that a white tail spider bite can give rise to necrotic arachnidism – a “flesh-eating” spider bite – is an urban myth! There is nothing in the white tail spider venom that can cause necrosis. Furthermore a 2003 scientific review of some 130 confirmed spider bites, there were ZERO cases of necrotic arachnidism.

However, one common cause of necrosis is through bacteria which get into the skin after a bite or indeed any wound. This is certainly possible after a spider bite (of any species), especially if the bite is not cleaned or continually scratched to alleviate itching.

White Tail Spider Bite Treatment

Following a white tail spider bite you should follow the standard spider bite first aid:

The patient should sit down and try to relax
Clean the bite with water and disinfectant
Apply an ice pack to the bite area
If possible, collect the spider or take a picture for identification (if medical treatment is required)
If symptoms worsen seek medical attention

Medical Disclaimer: While we make every effort to make sure the information in this website is accurate and informative, the information does not take the place of professional or medical advice.

White-Tailed Spider Identification

What do white tail spiders look like?

White tail spiders have a distinctive body shape, with their abdomen being long and thin rather than round or oval shaped as in most other spiders. The body of the female is up to 18 mm long with a leg span of 40 mm, the male is smaller with a body of up to 12 mm. Their body is dark grey / black with two pairs of white spots on the abdomen and a white spot at the tip (from which it gets its name). The white spots on the main part of the abdomen fade as they get older. The legs are dark with orange bands.

Where do white tail spiders live?

Outside they live beneath bark and rocks, and also in the leaf litter in gardens. They like tight narrow spaces, which is why they will also like squeezing between any clothes or sheets left on the floor inside!

White tail spiders are more common in summer and autumn, when the numbers of other spiders on which they feed (such as black house spiders) are at their peak. They are also more common inside during the warmer months to escape the heat.

White tail spider webs

White tail spiders do not build webs. They are a running / hunting spider, leaving their hiding place at night to hunt for other spiders, typically web building spiders, including redback spiders and black house spiders. The don’t return to the same hiding place each night.

However, when they are ready to breed, the females build a temporary silk retreat where they lay their egg sacs, which contain up to 90 eggs.

White Tail Spider Lifecycle

Where do white tail spiders lay their eggs?

Female white tail spiders find a sheltered crack or crevice to build an egg sac which will contain around 90 eggs. She will stay with the egg sac, protecting it, until the spiderlings hatch.

How long do white tail spiders live?

It is not known exactly how long white tail spiders live, but it is thought to be a maximum of a couple of years. They do tend to die in colder weather.

What does a white tail spider eat?

White tail spiders prefer to eat other spiders – especially black house spiders and redbacks! So, in many ways they can be considered a useful spider to have around. But assuming you don’t want any spiders, treating your home to get rid of web-building spiders (such as redbacks and black house spiders), will make your home less attractive to white tail spiders.

Do white tail spiders travel in pairs?

No, white tail spiders do not travel in pairs – they are solo hunters. If white tail spiders are seen “in pairs”, it is likely that they are a female and male pairing up to mate. Alternatively, it could be just a coincidence – that there are a lot potential prey and therefore increase number of white tails in the area.

White Tail Spiders – FAQ

Are white tail spiders poisonous / venomous?

People ask whether white tail spiders are poisonous, but what they really mean is, are they venomous? (Poison = something injested, inhaled or absorbed through skin, venom = something injected).

White tail spider bites are only mildly venomous – there is no need for an anti-venom. The standard spider bite treatment is generally all that’s required, although seek medical attention if the victim suffers a severe allergic reaction.

Are white tail spiders dangerous?

White tails are not dangerous. They will generally only bite if picked up (intentionally or by accident) and their bite is not particularly painful. The idea that their bites cause flesh to decay is an urban myth – there is nothing in their venom that can cause this. However, as can be the case with any spider bite, if the bite is not cleaned or if it is continually scratched, it can introduce bacteria that can cause ulcers and flesh to decay.

Can a white tail spider kill you?

No. There have been no instances of anyone dying from a white tail spider bite – their bite is not very venomous. However, a small number of people can suffer serious allergic reactions to their bite, which can include anaphylaxis. If that occurs it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

What are the white tail spider bite symptoms?

White tail spider bites are mildly venomous, resulting in an stinging sensation and swelling at the bite site. It should calm down within 24 hours.

Should you kill white tail spiders?

Although white tail spiders can be beneficial in keeping other spiders in check, you don’t want white tail spiders in the house as they do bite. So generally speaking, white tail spiders entering the house should be killed.

How to get rid of white tail spiders

As white tail spiders are a nomadic spider with no fixed hiding place, it is quite difficult to target white tail spiders with a treatment. It is quite easy to kill a single white tail spider so when people ask, “How to get rid of white tail spiders?” they normally want to know how to prevent spiders coming into their home.

The best way to reduce white tail spider numbers around your home is to carry out a general pest treatment to the outside of the house. This will eliminate web-building spiders, the favourite food for white tail spiders. Without this key food source, you house will be less attractive to white tail spiders and they will move elsewhere.

PestXpert Pro-Spray Outdoor Perimeter is the idea product for whole of house treatment, although PestXpert Pro-Spray Spider Blast is a great option for spot treatment.

Keeping the perimeter of your home clear of vegetation and garden beds, and ensuring your insect screens are in good order and well fitting, will also help.

Learn more about how to get rid of spiders…

Originally Published: June 21, 2024

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