What is a white-tailed spider?
The white-tailed spider is a common Australian spider with a dark, cigar-shaped body and a white spot at the tip of its abdomen. It hunts other spiders and is often found inside houses.
There are two main species in Australia, found in the south and east of the country. They are about one to two centimetres long.
White-tailed spiders do not build webs to catch prey. Instead, they wander at night, hunting other spiders, especially black house spiders.
The myth of flesh-eating bites
White-tailed spiders were once blamed for causing serious skin ulcers. However, a large Australian study published in 2003 found no evidence that their bites cause necrotic wounds.
Bites usually cause mild pain, redness and itching that last a short time. The ulcers once blamed on the spider are usually caused by other conditions.
White-tailed spiders often come indoors in search of prey and may hide in clothing or bedding, which is how most bites happen. Shaking out clothes and towels can help avoid bites. They have also been introduced to New Zealand.