Whitetail Spider (Lampona cylindrata)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneida
Suborder: Araneomorphae
Family: Lamponidae
Genus: Lampona
Species: L. murina
Scientific name: Lampona murina or Lampona cylindrata. Both these species have been introduced to New Zealand.
Common name: White-tail spider
This Australian spider was first recorded in NZ 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. The two species are not easily distinguished from one another without microscopic examination. They are Lampona murina or Lampona cylindrata amd both these species have been introduced to New Zealand.
These dark grey spiders are 12-17mm long and readily recognised by their elongate body form and a distinctive white patch on the end of the abdomen.
Their preferred habitat is under dry bark and plants but will often be seen inside houses, where they look for shelter from the light, after hunting at night. The spider often hides in clothing, especially if it is left lying around on the floor.These nocturnal hunting spiders are unusual because they feed only on other spiders.
White-tailed spiders do bite but will only bite if handled or provoked. In most cases the bite will cause little harm, as there is nothing in the venom that will affect us. A White-tail bite is immediately painful. It should be noted that cases of confirmed White-tail spider bites have rarely resulted in anything more severe than a red mark and localised, short-lived pain. As with bee/wasp stings different people will react in different ways.
Body length on this individual 23mm..
The juvenile spiders have addition white marks on the body as seen in photos below.
White tail hence the name
Spider in defence position
A young whitetail only 5mm in body length. The white body marks fade with age.
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