Spiders

Desidae

Lace Web Spiders

Black House Spider (Badumna insignis) - Victoria, Australia

Black House Spiders are normally very secretive, hiding in their funnel-shaped silken retreats by day and emerging to hunt by night.  On the rare occasions it is encountered, however, it is wise to treat them with caution.  Their fangs are capable of penetrating human skin and their venom is toxic enough to cause debilitating pain, shivering, muscle weakness and nausea.   It is abundant throughout most of Australia.