Sydney is in the midst of a spider boom, with "perfect conditions" leading to more offspring than usual surviving and resulting in many plants and other objects being draped with silken webs, according to the Australian Museum.

David Bock, who manages the museum's Search and Discovery section, said the warm, moist start to summer had triggered a surge in many insect numbers - such as moths and butterflies - which were now providing abundant food for spiders and other predators.

While female spiders often lay 50-100 eggs with only a few offspring surviving, many more were doing so, producing second and third generations in the season, Mr Bock said.

If the level of public inquiries are any guide, redbacks, huntsmen, golden orbs and St Andrews Cross spiders are in particular abundance.