Argiope protensa
Teardrop Spider Identification in Australia
A slender orb-weaver with a tapering abdomen, also called the tailed grass spider. Compare the tail, paired-leg posture and complete web.
Usually low risk; avoid handlingAbout Teardrop spider
The teardrop spider is an Argiope orb-weaver with an unusually long, tapering rear abdomen. A pale or silvery surface, brownish legs and a posture with legs held in pairs can support the identification. A side photograph is especially useful because the apparent tail is an extension of the abdomen. It is not a sting. Young spiders and males may not show the same elongated outline as a mature female.
Look at the web as well as the animal. This is an orb-web spider of vegetation, rather than a ground hunter or a spider living in a burrow. A narrow silver orb-weaver can be confused with Leucauge, while a scorpion-tailed spider has a different abdominal outline. Species-level separation from similar Argiope can require adult anatomy. Record a side view and a wider picture showing the silk; do not pull the web apart to obtain them.
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 Museum: teardrop spider and egg sacs
- Australian spider specialists: comparison with Leucauge
- Healthdirect: spider-bite first aid
Reviewed 21 September 2026. Identification guide; not a confirmed species diagnosis.
Quick identification
- Long, tapering abdomen in mature females
- Orb web among vegetation
- Often rests with legs held in pairs
- Brownish legs and pale or silvery body areas
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
Grasses, shrubs and other vegetation in Australia; a web in plants is more informative than a spider found loose indoors.