Aussie anti-theft device

[Keith Webb]

I think it's possibly a Neosparassus diana, or a Badge Huntsman.





Habitat and Biology
The badge huntsman is nocturnally active and occasionally comes into houses, but less frequently than other huntsman spiders. Outside it can be found hunting for prey on the trunks of trees or in foliage. During the day it will retreat beneath the bark of a tree. A silken retreat is built in a similar situation for moulting and egg laying. Some species of Neosparassus build a silken retreat in foliage by gluing several leaves together, whilst others construct shallow burrows. The egg sac, which is a flattish silken capsule, is guarded by the female. During this period she can be quite aggressive and will rear up in a defensive display if provoked. Young Neosparassus are often green in colour.


Colour
Male: Similar to female.
Female: Fawn to orange or pinkish brown. Black shield shaped marking with two white spots on underside of abdomen.


Form
Body flattened, though less so than other huntsman groups. First two pairs of legs distinctly longer than hind two pairs.


Body Length
Male: 16mm
Female: 20mm


Web type
Does not build a web.


Bite
No serious symptoms have been recorded from the bite of N. diana, but bites from other species of Neosparassus are known to cause general symptoms including local severe pain and swelling, sweating, nausea and vomiting.

Source