Pisauridae
Nursery Web Spider Identification in Australia
Long-legged hunting spider where females may guard a silk nursery for spiderlings.
Usually low riskNursery web spiders are often noticed on vegetation or near water, especially when a female guards a nursery web. Their long legs and active hunting can resemble wolf or fishing spiders, but the silk nursery around eggs or spiderlings is a particularly useful clue. Check the setting and silk structure together rather than treating leg length or brown patterning as a species-level match.
Quick identification
- Long-legged hunter
- Often on vegetation
- Female may guard a nursery web
- Does not rely on a neat orb web
What to check next
Check whether the silk is a nursery shelter rather than a prey-catching web.
When to seek medical help
Seek advice if symptoms are severe or unusual.
Where it is usually seen
Vegetation, garden beds, shrubs, waterside plants and sheltered outdoor areas.