Known as the White Tail spider or White Tailed spider, this Australian invader was first recorded in New Zealand in 1886, at Waiwera, Auckland. It is believed that it came into the country with early colonists and is now well established throughout the North Island and is prevalent in many parts of the South Island including Nelson and Christchurch. They are common in urban dwellings.White Tails are active hunters, preying upon other types of spiders, and may be found roaming inside houses, especially in warmer weather. White Tail spiders have been implicated in cases of ulceration or necrosis following spider bites. The incidence of ulceration following White Tail spider bite is not known. The majority of cases appear not to develop ongoing ulceration, although blisters and redness are common. There is much discussion about the danger of White Tail spider bites. Many people are convinced that the cause of their serious ulceration was the bite of a White Tail, but there is little hard scientific evidence either way. Perhaps it is better to be safe than sorry?

How do I know a white tailed spider when I see one?

White Tail Spiders are slender looking, 1-2 cm in length, typically greyish or sometimes brownish in colour with orange to brown banded legs and usually with a distinct cream-white marking on the tip of the tail. Males and juveniles may have additional white markings; two spots on either side of the abdomen.The leg span of a fully grown specimen is about the size of a fifty-cent coin. The two species present in New Zealand: Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina cannot easily be distinguished from one another without close examination under a microscope.

Where are they found?

The White Tail spider’s preferred habitat is under dry bark and plants, but they will often be seen inside houses, where they look for shelter from the light after hunting at night. They are also known to move indoors in the winter to seek shelter from the cold and there they find plenty of their favourite prey; grey house spiders. The White Tail spider often hides in clothing and shoes, especially if they have been left lying on the floor. As White Tails eat many other kinds of spiders one sign that White Tail spiders are sharing your house is that there are few cobwebs and there are no other spiders to be found.The nests of White Tail spiders are tangled masses of webbing. These are often found in dark dry areas such as roof voids.

Hunting Characteristics

These spiders do not build a web to catch their prey as they are active hunters. They are rather unusual in that they specialise in catching other spiders, particularly the common grey house spider.The White Tail spider will cautiously enter the web of its intended victim and mimic the struggles of a trapped insect by plucking at the web. This may trick the resident spider into investigating the disturbance and so instead of gaining a meal, it becomes one when the White Tail strikes.

Signs of a White Tail Spider Bite

There are numerous accounts of particularly nasty bites that are allegedly caused by White Tail spiders. However, the evidence that these spiders are responsible for these particularly nasty bites is weak in many cases.Where these spiders are positively identified as causing a bite, the bite will cause instant pain followed by typical symptoms including ongoing pain, discomfort and swelling at the bite site. The bite can develop into a small ulcerous wound which can look similar to a boil. It normally heals within a week. In some instances, victims report flu-like symptoms. Particularly nasty infections can leave scarring. Only a few bite victims will have a truly nasty reaction to a White Tail spider bite. Infection of the bite area seems to be a far more likely cause of medical problems than the spider’s venom.If a nasty reaction to the bite does occur, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lethargy and headaches. An icepack should be applied to the area to stop the swelling. White Tail spiders will only bite if provoked and in most cases the bite will cause little harm. However, as with bee/wasp stings different people will react to a bite in different ways.In any case, spider bites should always be cleaned and watched for signs of infection. Should any adverse symptoms occur always seek medical advice.

Spider Proofing – How to Get Rid of Spiders

Treat areas where spiders are seen with synthetic pyrethroid insecticide such as permethrin or deltamethrin, both available in a concentrates or as ready to use trigger sprays. Unlike the active ingredients in most fly sprays with ingredients that break down in UV light rapidly (sometimes less than three hours), Deltamethrin and permethrin are UV stable and will retain residual insecticidal efficacy for up to four months even in full direct sunlight. They are consequently very useful for treating the spiders around both the outside and inside of your house.

1. White Tail spiders are hunting spiders and like to hide in dark dry areas. The roof void is often the place that these spiders lurk and build their nests. Spray the roof voids with residual insecticide or use a bug bomb fumigator if the voids are hard to access.

2. Spray interior areas where spiders have been seen and corners of ceilings, around doors and window frames, skirting, under and behind furniture, in clothes cupboards and hot tank cupboards.

3. Spray exterior areas where webbing has accumulated (do not remove webbing until one week after spraying). Spray eaves, around windows and doors, vents, downpipes, wall bases, washing lines and decks.

4. In most cases this treatment will keep a house free of spiders for a season. If UV levels are high, there is high levels of rain or the treated surfaces are regularly washed down the treatment may need repeated.

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How to Get Rid of White Tail and Other Spiders, 5.0 out of 5 based on 95 ratings



  1. Bill Higgins says:

    Having been bitten by `something’ in our garage, I went to my Doctor, who was not sure it was a Whitetail bite, but suggested in my case a tetanus shot and application of a topical antibiotic cream, which cleared up the by then rather spread out mauve bit site. There also seemed to be two small pinpoint holes in the centre of the bite. Question: do Skinks/Gekkos `bite’? There are lots of them in the garden and round the house outside this year.

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  2. Hi Bill,
    Thanks for the comment. Sorry to hear you were bitten by something, perhaps a White Tail spider. The tetanus shot was probably a wise precaution on behalf of your doctor.
    I think it is highly unlikely that a skink or gecko could have bitten you. I would say you are very lucky to have them in your garden. I would be out with my camera trying to take some good shots of them.
    What part of New Zealand are you in?

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  3. Cynthia says:

    Hi there,
    I have found 5 large white tail spiders in my home over the last month or two.
    2 have shown up even after we have washed down and sprayed the exterior of our house with insecticide.
    I have 2 small children and I am getting more and more worried.
    4 of the five were found in our hallway which leads to a laundry with a cat-door and a large dark hot water cupboard and storage area, but most concerning also our two children’s bedrooms
    Do you think theres a chance of infestation?
    Do think two robocans would be strong enough to eradicate them?
    We are in the Nth Shore of AK and live reasonably close to the sea and a bush.
    Please help.

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  4. nikita says:

    Hi I have a don and has found a white tailed spider III n his room we tried to kill him but he got away under his bed I’m not letting him sleep there any more but we are all afraid of going in there we don’t know what to do please help

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  5. Chels says:

    I am waiting for bomb to work on whitetail in my room will it get the whitetail if its in my washing piles in there i didnt want to touch them lol thanks

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  6. Elouise says:

    I have just seen and killed two white tails within 5 minutes of each other, what are the chances of there being more around my house? Should I burn it down and leave?

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