A male Maratus volans peacock spider. Image made available through generous donation of its original author.
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What good are spiders?

Apart from their intrinsic right to be here, spiders do humans a power of good as well.

A spider sits atop a pencil.
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Why the 2010s were the decade of the peacock spider

How disruptors and digital technology led to a frenzy of scientific discovery.

Black wasp
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Predator vs predator

Wasps give huntsman spiders a taste of their own medicine.

Cockroach
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Bountiful Mallee

Close encounters with Mallee insects.

Female Badge Huntsman Spider underside
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Is my spider a boy or a girl?

At some times in a spider’s life it is easy to tell, but at other times it can be impossible.

Black Rock Scorpion
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Scorpion facts and fallacies

Are all scorpions dangerous? Answers to this and other common scorpion questions. 

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Your eight-legged housemates

At Museums Victoria we are often asked: “What kind of spider is this? It was in my house! Is it dangerous?”

a closeup of a small orange coloured spider with big eyes pointing of its legs
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Nemo found: new species of dancing peacock spider named

Meet the newest dancing peacock spider, Maratus nemo.

a small scorpion glowing green under uv light
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Glowing animals: understanding bioluminescence and biofluorescence

What do a Platypus, a Dragonfish and a Scorpion all have in common?

a spider looking straight at the viewer
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Top spider myths

A myth for each leg: from the deadly Daddy Long-legs to swallowing spiders in your sleep.

an upside down praying mantis posing
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Live bugs, in a museum?

What does the thought of picking up a bug do to you? It’s just a day in the life for our Live Exhibits keepers. 

A black and white image of a toadlet.
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Under fire: The animals threatened by Australia’s bushfire crisis

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Museums Victoria Collections

Venoms & antivenoms at Museum Victoria

Through necessity, Australia is a world leader in venom and antivenom research.

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Museums Victoria Collections

Help us document biodiversity – record your own sightings

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Museums Victoria Collections

Wolf spiders

Some Wolf Spiders shelter in permanent burrows, others wander during the day.

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Museums Victoria Collections

Spiny Spider

Also known as the Christmas spider or jewel spider.

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Museums Victoria Collections

Redback Spider