spiders of victoria Page 13

Victoria’s spiders are a mixed cast: mostly harmless flatmates, with a couple you don’t want to annoy. Serious bites are rare, and funnel-web drama is mainly a New South Wales thing.

• Huntsman and wolf spiders: big, fast, and generally harmless pest control on legs.
• Redback (Latrodectus hasselti): the medically important one; painful bites—seek medical advice.
• White-tailed spiders: often blamed for necrosis, but evidence doesn’t back that up; bites are usually minor.
• Garden orb-weavers and daddy long-legs: common, benign web artists.

Shake out boots, avoid poking around under outdoor furniture, and if bitten and concerned, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or seek medical care.

Most encounters end with the spider going one way and you going the other—ideally not via the ceiling at Mach 2.