Do white-tailed spiders cause skin ulceration?
White-tailed spiders are found in most areas of Australia, and are common in urban dwellings. They are readily identifiable by their cylindrical body shape and the presence of a white or grey spot on the end on their abdomen. They are active hunters, preying upon other types of spiders, and may be found roaming inside houses, especially in warmer weather. White-tailed spiders have been implicated in some cases of necrotising arachnidism (skin breakdown or ulceration following spider bites) but this is a rare event at best. The majority of white-tailed spider bites do not cause skin ulceration, although itching and redness are common and may last several days.
