Spiders

Question 1

Answer 1

Nie giftig | Not poisonous

Daddy long legs

White ‘knees’, untidy nest in the open.

Question 2

Answer 2

Giftig | Poisonous

Sakspinnekop | Sac spider

Pale colour (fawn, yellow to yellowish green) with two pairs of legs directed forwards and two pairs backwards with the first pair being much longer than the others are. The tips of the legs and the mouthparts are usually darkly coloured. Indoors may spend the day in, for example, folds of curtains, bedding and clothing on a clothesline in a soft silk sac-like retreat. Venom damages tissue.

Question 3

Answer 3

Baie giftig | Very poisonous

Vioolspinnekop | Violin Spider or Recluse Spider

Brown or reddish brown dark with markings on body. In some, a violin-shaped marking on the top of the head. Position of legs when resting is very characteristic. Rare, not aggressive, not commonly found in houses. Nocturnal and at night may find its way into, for example, clothing, beds and shoes. Nests under a solid and unyielding obstacle. Superficial bite is painless and initially goes unnoticed. The venom damages tissue.

Question 4

Answer 4

Baie giftig | Very poisonous

‘Swart’ knopiespinnekop | ‘Black’ button spider

Brown or black with yellow (most common) or red patterns on top of the body. The markings vary between species from stripes to spots. There are no markings on the ventral side of the abdomen in adults. The egg sacs are creamy-white, round and smooth. Widely distributed throughout South Africa and more often found in natural habitats then in built-up areas. Venom affects the nervous system.

Question 5

Answer 5

Giftig | Poisonous

‘Bruin’ knopiespinnekop | ‘Brown’ button spider

Colour varies from cream, grey and brown to pitch black. The underside has a prominent red to orange hourglass marking, while the back side is covered with an intricate geometrical pattern in the paler ones. The egg sac has a spiky appearance or is large with a fluffy appearance. Venom affects the nervous system.

Question 6

Answer 6

Nie giftig nie maar kan byt | Non-poisonous but can bite

Reënspinnekop | Rain spider or Huntsman spider

Body length is 25-30 mm with a leg span of up to 100 mm. White stripe below eyes. They are nocturnal wandering hunters and eat insects.