Most spiders around a Sydney home are harmless and spend their days eating other insects. Two are a different matter: the funnel-web and the redback. Knowing where they live and how to avoid them matters more than being able to name every spider on the fence.
What to look for
Signs you have them
- Webs in the corners of rooms, around windows, under eaves and along fences.
- Messy, tangled webs low to the ground in dry sheltered spots, a favourite of redbacks.
- Silk-lined holes in the ground, often in moist, shaded parts of the garden.
- Round, pale egg sacs in webs or tucked into corners.
- Spiders in the shed, garage, letterbox, under outdoor furniture or in stored items.
- Lots of other insects around outdoor lights. Where there is food, spiders follow.
Usual hiding spots
Where they hide
- Redbacks like dry, sheltered, undisturbed places: sheds, letterboxes, under outdoor furniture, pot plant rims, stacked materials and children's toys left outside.
- Funnel-webs live in burrows in moist, sheltered ground: under rocks, logs, garden edging and dense shrubs.
- Wandering funnel-webs can end up in houses, garages, shoes left outside and swimming pools, more often in the warmer months and after rain.
- Web-building spiders gather around eaves, windows, verandahs and outdoor lights.
- Huntsmen shelter under bark and behind things, and wander inside. They look alarming and are not considered dangerous.
The honest version
Why it matters
A bite from a funnel-web or a redback is a medical matter. A funnel-web bite is an emergency: call 000 straight away.
Children and pets are the most likely to put a hand or a nose where a spider is hiding.
Most other spiders are harmless and useful. A lot of spiders usually means a lot of other insects for them to eat, which is worth knowing in itself.
Before we get there
What to do, and what not to
Do this now
- Wear gloves and closed shoes when gardening or moving things that have been stored outside.
- Shake out shoes, gloves, towels and clothes that have been left outside or on the floor.
- Check outdoor toys, furniture and play equipment before children use them.
- Keep garden beds, firewood and stored materials away from the walls of the house.
- Clear clutter from sheds and garages so there are fewer places to hide.
- If someone is bitten and you suspect a funnel-web, call 000 and keep them still. For any bite you are worried about, get medical advice.
Do not do this
- Do not pick up a spider with your hands, even one that looks dead.
- Do not assume a spider at the bottom of the pool has drowned. Funnel-webs can survive under water for hours.
- Do not put your hands where you cannot see: under rims, into letterboxes, behind stored items.
- Do not walk around the garden barefoot at night.
Our part
How we deal with it
Every home is different, so the detail comes with the quote. This is how a job like yours usually runs.
Identify
We work out which spiders you have. Web builders and ground dwellers are dealt with differently.
Inspect
We check inside and out: eaves, windows, fences, sheds, the garden and the spots where they shelter.
Treat
We treat the areas where they live and travel. We explain what the treatment involves at the quote.
Advise
We tell you what to do before and after, and how to make the yard less inviting to them.
Asked a lot
Spiders: common questions
Something else on your mind? Put it in the quote form and we will answer it when we reply.
Which Sydney spiders are dangerous?
The Sydney funnel-web and the redback are the two to take seriously. Most others, including huntsmen and the common web builders around the house, are not considered dangerous, though any bite can be painful.
What should I do if someone is bitten?
If you suspect a funnel-web, call 000 immediately, keep the person still and follow the operator's instructions. For a redback bite or any bite that causes strong pain, sweating, nausea or worry, get medical advice. If it is safe to do so, a photo of the spider helps.
Why are there so many spiders around my house?
Spiders go where the food is. Outdoor lights draw insects, insects draw spiders. Gardens against the walls, clutter and sheltered corners give them somewhere to live.
Should I leave the harmless ones alone?
That is up to you. Many spiders do a good job of keeping other insects down. If the numbers are getting out of hand, or you have small children or pets and are finding redbacks, it is worth dealing with.
The rest of the line-up
Other pests
Got spiders?
Better call Saulo. Send the details and a photo of what you are seeing and we will come back with a quote.