Instructions
Analyze the size of the body of the spider. Western Australian spiders can be as small as 6 mm and as large as 12 inches. Redback spiders grow up to a 1/2 inch long, while huntsman spiders grow up to 12 inches, including the length of their long legs. Golden orb male spiders are much smaller than the female. The male golden orb is 6 mm long and the female grows up to 45 mm. The Sydney funnel web spider grows up to 3 inches long, and daddy longlegs grow up to 50 mm including the complete spread of their legs.
Examine the coloring of the spider. Many spiders in western Australia are colorful. For example, golden orbs are reddish yellow or greenish yellow with white markings. Crab spiders use camouflage to capture prey, changing their colors to green, orange or white to match the color of the flower they sit on. The banded garden spider is one of the most colorful in western Australia. These spiders are yellow, red, orange and black, and the legs are banded with orange and black.
Observe the behavior of the spider. Some spiders in western Australia can be identified by the way they hunt for prey. Wolf and jump spiders hunt for prey on the ground. Jumping spiders get their name for pouncing on their prey when it gets close enough. Wolf spiders are hairy and are not aggressive to humans. They have great eyesight and can be found hunting on the ground in woodlands and forest areas. Sydney funnel web spiders are aggressive and spend most of their time in tubular burrows. When they leave their burrow in search of food, they can be found near water and trees.
Examine the spider's web. Not all western Australian spiders develop webs. The location, design of the web, or size will help determine what type of spider it is. For example, golden orb spiders create large webs that are at least 19 feet long and 6 feet wide between tall trees. Banded garden spiders create zigzag designs in their webs in gardens and tall grasses. Daddy longlegs make messy and tangled webs in in houses and other buildings, and are often found in basements and cellars. Redback spiders create funnel-shaped webs.
How to Identify Spiders in Western Australia
Western Australia has plenty of woodlands, forests and open fields for spiders to live in and find food. A few are dangerous, such as the redback spider, but most are harmless to humans. Spiders located in the western region of Australia can be identified by their webs, colors and size.