Spider Inquiries

Include a point of reference in your photos

This is a Lynx Spider on a clothes peg

If you would like a spider identified, here’s how to do it.

• Visit Us
  Bring the contained specimen to the Inquiry Centre.
  We are on Level 3 of the Queensland Museum South Bank.
  Call us on 3840 7555 if you have ANY questions.
  

• Email
  Email your pictures to: inquirycentre@qm.qld.gov.au

  When emailing photos:
  

  • Don't put yourself at risk of being bitten.
    
  • Set your camera to ‘macro’.
    
  • Include a familiar object (e.g. a pen) to provide scale.
    
  • Send several pictures from different angles.
    
  • Reduce the image size as much as possible without losing detail before emailing.

• Post
  It is important that you follow these instructions carefully, otherwise your specimen may decay during transit, making identification difficult or impossible – it’ll stink too!

  Here’s how:

  1. If your spider is alive and in a jar, place into the freezer for at least 2 hours to kill it.
  2. Remove from the freezer, and immerse the spider in methylated spirits for 3 days – use a glass jar with a lid.
  3. Remove the spider, drain off excess methylated spirits, wrap in tissue or cloth, and place into a sturdy plastic container with a tight fitting lid, like one of those ol’ fashioned plastic film canisters.
  4. Place into a padded post pack obtained from your local post office, and remember to:
  5. Include a letter with:
     • Your contact details (name, address, phone number, and email)
     • What you would like us to do (e.g. provide identification and notes on biology or how dangerous the spider is).
     • Locality, date, and biological observations relating to the spider (e.g. active during the day or night, its habitat, behaviour, etc.).
     • Address the parcel to:
       Inquiry Centre
       Queensland Museum
       PO Box 3300
       South Brisbane BC 4101
       QUEENSLAND

  If possible, post early in the week – this will prevent the specimen sitting at the post office over the weekend. When we receive your spider we will identify it and contact you with all the details.