Habronestes sp. (genus)

An ant-eating spider at Queanbeyan West, NSW

Habronestes sp. (genus) at Queanbeyan West, NSW - 4 Apr 2020
Request use of media

Identification history

Habronestes sp. (genus) 3 May 2020 MichaelMulvaney
Habronestes sp. (genus) 3 May 2020 YumiCallaway
Lampona sp. (genus) 3 May 2020 MichaelMulvaney
Habronestes sp. (genus) 5 Apr 2020 MichaelMulvaney
Unidentified 5 Apr 2020 Speedsta

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

6 comments

Speedsta wrote:
   6 Apr 2020
Could this be:
Nyssus Coloripes
The orange Legged swiftspider
YumiCallaway wrote:
   3 May 2020
I think this would be a male Habronestes sp.
Corinnidae species (i.e. N. coloripes) are similar to Zodariidae species, however the body shape + ratio, stance, and patterning have differences. Habronestes sp tend to have a more circular body shape while Nyssus is more elongated. N. coloripes is a good suggestion because it has the orange/red legs, however it usually only has this colour on the two foremost pairs of legs, whereas Habronestes has a larger proportion of orange/red colouring on all four legs (coloured from past the first major leg segment closest to the body).
Lampona sp is a lot more hairy than Habronestes which tends to have quite a smooth look. The legs of Lampona are a lot smoother and Lampona species tend to hold themselves very close to the ground with a crawling movement (although they hold themselves up higher when they run), and, Lampona sp would have no trouble crawling up the side of the container. Habronestes holds themselves quite high off the ground allowing movement to be very fast and light; as a ground-dwelling species, it would have a lot more trouble than Lampona getting out of the container.
   3 May 2020
Thanks Yumi
Speedsta wrote:
   4 May 2020
So doesnt bite and not venomous?
YumiCallaway wrote:
   5 May 2020
It does bite and it is venomous but they shouldn't be dangerous.
The only venom-less spiders currently known come under the family Uloboridae. This link gives some information on them: http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=1610
All other spiders have venom to some degree, although their qualities vary. Habronestes sp (genus) comes under Zodariidae (family - Ant spiders), which mostly hunt by day and mimics ants. Their venom needs to be effective enough to immobilise or weaken prey before they escape in contrast to spiders which use silk to physically limit movement of prey. However, having the potential to be venomous doesn't necessarily make it dangerous. Especially for a genus like Habronestes, interaction with people would be very limited because of their habitat and behaviour in comparison to species/genus like Hypoblemum (jumping spider), Lampona sp (White-tailed spider) or Lactrodectus hasselti (Redback spider) which are commonly and often found around the house.
Generally, you shouldn't need to be concerned about spider bites around this region. They will definitely not go out of their way to bite you. Even if you are bitten, given our size in comparison to the creatures the spider's venom is supposed to act upon (as well as the limited amount of venom a spider has), its impact is significantly smaller. This degree of impact would vary according to the species (eg. Redbacks have the most potential for harm around the ACT), the effectiveness of their venom, how much venom was used in a bite (if at all) and the sensitivity/vulnerability of the person who was bitten.
Also, physically, it is usually quite difficult for a spider to bite you unless the spider is on top of you because the fangs of most species face downward and their bodies aren't very bendy (unlike an ant which would have no issues biting people!)
If you do get bitten, it will most likely not cause a reaction. Even if it does, it would generally only be quite mild. In saying so though, I don't have any experience being bitten by spiders and this information is from reading and advice I have come across. If you ever are bitten by a spider and it causes a reaction of concern, you should seek medical attention! If you go to other regions with different species of spiders and you think there is a risk you may come in contact and be bitten, it's best to be aware of any local species of that region you should be wary of!
You should find that spiders - kind of like snakes - will choose to either flee or hide & freeze before risking contact. If they have been disrupted, they will generally run for shelter and hide first and foremost. Photography affects spiders quite little. If contained, they will try to escape, or press up against the edges and freeze unless there is something they can hide in or under in the container. The more prodding and moving around they experience, the more aggravated they become and the higher their likelihood to bite.
It's always best to be careful around anything that could bite, sting or harm you in some way, particularly if you don't know what it is and what it could do! With any creature, treat them with respect, patience and understanding and you will be quite safe :)
Speedsta wrote:
   5 May 2020
Many thanks for the insight Yumi :)

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 4 Apr 2020 04:55 PM Recorded on
  • Speedsta Recorded by

Additional information

  • 12mm to 25mm Animal size

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
2,153,789 sightings of 19,949 species in 6,493 locations from 11,438 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.