Sydney spiders: redbacks, funnel-webs and how to stay safe

Spiders are a normal part of life in Sydney, and most of the ones you'll see, like huntsmen and daddy long-legs, are not a danger to people. Two species do need to be taken seriously: the Sydney funnel-web and the redback.

Sydney funnel-web spiders

Funnel-webs are large, glossy, black to dark brown spiders. They live in burrows in cool, moist spots: under rocks, logs, garden beds and houses. Males wander in search of females in the warmer months, particularly after rain, and can end up in shoes, laundry left on the floor, garages and swimming pools. A funnel-web bite is a medical emergency.

Redback spiders

Female redbacks are black with a distinctive red or orange stripe on the back. They build messy webs in dry, sheltered places: under outdoor furniture, in letterboxes, around pot plants, in sheds and under the edges of play equipment.

First aid

• Funnel-web, or any big black spider you can't identify: call 000 immediately. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage firmly over the bite and along the whole limb, splint it, and keep the person still and calm until help arrives.
• Redback: do not use a pressure bandage. Wash the area, apply a cold pack to ease the pain and seek medical advice. Call 000 if the person becomes unwell or the pain is severe.
• For advice on any bite, the Poisons Information Centre is available on 13 11 26, 24 hours a day.

Reduce spiders around your home

• Wear gloves and enclosed shoes when gardening, moving rocks or cleaning out the shed.
• Shake out shoes, gloves and clothes left outside or on the floor before putting them on.
• Keep clutter, timber and rubbish away from the house.
• Check under outdoor furniture and children's play equipment regularly.
• Fit screens and seal gaps under doors.
• Check the pool skimmer box and pool every morning in warm weather.

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