Storena species
Spotted Ground Spider Identification in Australia
Australian ant-eating ground spider with a dark, sparsely haired body, paired pale-to-orange abdominal spots and no prey-catching web; photographs usually support only a cautious Storena-level match.
Usually low risk“Spotted ground spider” on this page means a possible member of the Australian genus Storena, one of the ant-eating spiders in Zodariidae. Begin with the whole combination: a 6–20 mm ground hunter, usually reddish-brown to black, sparse rather than shaggy hair, orange-red or banded legs, and two to five paired pale-yellow, white or orange spots on the abdomen. A small unpaired spot may sit above the spinnerets, and Storena can show a pale brown pitted bare circle between the front spots. Those marks are useful but not species proof. Australia has many similar zodariids, while species separation normally depends on adult anatomy and locality. Use “Storena species” only for a strong genus-level match and “ant-eating spider (Zodariidae)” when the diagnostic view is missing.
Quick identification
- Ground hunter without a prey-catching web; males commonly wander at night
- Usually dark reddish-brown to black and sparsely haired, with orange-red or black-and-white legs
- Two to five paired pale-yellow, white or orange abdominal spots; sometimes one unpaired rear spot
- Possible pale brown pitted circle of bare cuticle between the front abdominal spots
- About 6–20 mm body length; adult anatomy is normally needed for a species name
What to check next
Photograph the whole dorsal surface in natural light, the eye area if possible, the end of the abdomen and the place where it was found. Measure body length without legs. Do not dig out a retreat or handle the spider. If the bare pitted patch or spot arrangement is unclear, stop at Zodariidae rather than guessing Storena.
When to seek medical help
Australian Museum reports few bites from ant-eating spiders; reported effects were minor, with a red welt and a local hot feeling for a couple of hours, and the group is not considered dangerous. This is group-level evidence, not a guarantee for every Storena species or every unexplained bite. Wash a witnessed minor bite with soap and water and apply a cold pack for pain. Seek medical advice if pain is severe or persists, swelling or itching worsens after 24–48 hours, or you are worried; call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice. Call 000 for collapse, breathing difficulty or anaphylaxis. If the spider could instead be a funnel-web or mouse spider, follow emergency pressure-immobilisation guidance and call 000.
Where it is usually seen
Ground-level shelter in leaf litter, soil, woodland and forest floor, gardens, beneath stones or rotten logs, and occasionally houses. Some ant-eating spiders occupy a shallow depression or burrow with a small palisade of upright twigs or leaves; others shelter by day and wander to hunt. ALA occurrence records for the genus span every Australian state and territory, but individual Storena species can have much narrower ranges.