Miturga species
Lined Spiders Identification in Australia
Miturga are prowling hunters that can resemble wolf spiders. Some build dense silk retreats in low vegetation or beneath logs.
Usually low risk; avoid handlingAbout Lined spiders
Lined spiders here are Miturga, a genus in Miturgidae. They are active hunters rather than orb-web builders. Field descriptions of M. lineata and M. gilva show why identification needs care: both are fairly substantial, patterned prowlers, and the differences are not captured by simply calling a spider striped.
Some Miturga make a dense, bag-like silk shelter in grass, under a rotting log or close to the ground. Such a retreat can contain egg sacs; it is not a funnel-web identification on its own. Compare a clear view of the eyes with wolf spiders, whose eye arrangement differs. The stripes on the underside are useful in some species descriptions but should never be sought by handling an unknown spider. This genus-level page lets the identifier return a meaningful possibility without forcing a species name from weak evidence. Record the ground setting, body pattern and visible silk from a comfortable distance.
Identification limit: this guide is a comparison aid. A name match in the identifier does not establish a species record.
Compare similar spiders
Sources and further reading
- Australian spider specialists: Miturga lineata
- Australian spider specialists: Miturga gilva
- Healthdirect: spider-bite first aid
Reviewed 21 September 2026. Identification guide; not a confirmed species diagnosis.
Quick identification
- Prowling brown or grey hunter
- Often has longitudinal body markings
- Dense silk shelter may be present near ground level
- Does not have the distinctive wolf-spider eye arrangement
What to check next
Photograph the whole spider and its surroundings without disturbing it. Use the clues together; a close match is not a confirmed species identification.
When to seek medical help
For a suspected bite, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. Call 000 for breathing difficulty, collapse or other severe symptoms. Do not wait for an online identification.
Where it is usually seen
Coastal and inland Australian vegetation, woodland and sheltered ground, including southern regions and Tasmania; habitat preferences vary by species.