
Spiders
Brisbane is home to a variety of spider species, but not all of them are dangerous to humans. Many people suffer fear and anxiety from spiders, hence the term Arachnophobia!
Common Species of Spiders in Brisbane
- Redbacks build messy webs in dark areas such as under outdoor tables, barbeques, garden sheds but make their way inside homes and find places to build their nests such as in curtains and under furniture
- Female redbacks have the distinctive red marking on her back. They are venomous and their bites cause pain, fever and in severe cases, large skin lesions and even paralysis
- Redback Spider bites are the most commonly reported spider bites in Australia – seek medical help if bitten
- House spiders can be black, brown or grey in colour
- They are web spinning spiders making messy webs outside on windows, gutters fences and around outdoor lights where their webs attract insects into their web
- They are not an aggressive spider, but their bites are venomous and cause severe pain
- Huntsman spiders are often light brown in colour and reside indoors and outdoors
- Often found hiding behind boxes in garages or in plain sight up on walls and ceilings
- They are not web spinning spiders but are agile and hunt small insects as prey
- Whilst harmless, the Huntsman spider causes fear in most people and is not welcome in homes
- Daddy Long Legs Spiders are easily recognisable by their long skinny legs and small body
- They build a tangled looking web in sheltered spaces under furniture, behind stored items and in garages
- They like the outdoors as well building their webs behind barbeques and under decking timbers.
- Daddy Long Legs eat other small insects and smaller spiders
- Also found inside roof voids, they make their way down through ceiling lights and vents
- Another spider which is usually most unwelcome in our homes
Spider Bite First Aid

Wash the area and keep clean
washing the area and keeping it clean after a spider bite is a simple yet effective way to prevent infection and promote healing, and should be done as soon as possible after the bite occurs.

Do NOT apply a pressure immobilisation bandage
Spider venom is primarily a neurotoxin, which means it affects the nervous system. Applying a pressure immobilization bandage can restrict blood flow to the area, which could cause the venom to become more concentrated and lead to further tissue damage.

Apply Ice
To alleviate the pain, use a cold compress/cold pack for a maximum of twenty (20) minutes.

Monitor Casualty
By monitoring the casualty, you can look out for any signs of worsening symptoms, such as increasing pain, swelling, or redness at the site of the bite, or the appearance of new symptoms like muscle cramps, sweating, or difficulty breathing.

If symptoms are severe go to hospital
It is usually not necessary to call an ambulance but if symptoms are severe, the bitten person is a child, has difficulty breathing or the casualty collapses call 000