Site navigation

ANIMAL SPECIES:Redback Spider, Latrodectus hasselti

Add comment Add tags

Redback Spiders are found throughout Australia and are common in disturbed and urban areas.

Alternative Name/s

Red-back Spider

Identification

Redback spiders (Latrodectus hasselti) belong to the Family Theridiidae, which is found worldwide. The notorious Black Widow Spider (Latrodectus sp) of the United States is a close relative of the Redback Spider, and only differs in appearance by the absence of a red dorsal stripe. Other species of Latrodectus occur in Africa, New Zealand (the Katipo), the Pacific Islands, Europe and North and South America.

Female Redback Spiders are black (occasionally brownish) with an obvious orange to red longitudinal stripe on the upper abdomen, with the red stripe sometimes being broken, and an "hourglass" shaped red/orange spot on the underside of the abdomen. Juveniles have additional white markings on the abdomen. Females have a body about the size of a large pea and slender legs.

The males' red markings are often less distinct. The body is light brown with white markings on the upper side of the abdomen, and a pale hour-glass marking on the underside.

Size range

1 cm (female); 3 mm - 4 mm (male)

Similar Species

Grey House Spider, Cupboard Spider

Distribution

They are found Australia-wide and will live almost anywhere as long as there is adequate food, a sheltered web site and warm enough for breeding.  They are especially common in disturbed and urban areas, in association with human habitation.

Habitat

Webs consist of a tangled, funnel-like upper retreat area from which vertical, sticky catching threads run to ground attachments. The Redback Spider favours proximity to human habitation, with webs being built in dry, sheltered sites, such as among rocks, in logs, shrubs, junk-piles, sheds, or toilets. Redback Spiders are less common in winter months.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

Insects are the usual prey of Redback Spiders, but they are capable of capturing quite large animals, such as male trapdoor spiders, king crickets and small lizards, if they become entangled in the web. Prey-stealing is also common, with large females taking stored food items from others' webs.

Feeding Habits

arthropod-feeder, carnivorous, insectivorous, predator

What does this mean?

Life history mode

sedentary

What does this mean?

Life cycle

Once the female has mated, she can store sperm and use it over a period of up to two years to lay several batches of eggs. She spends much time producing up to ten round egg sacs (1cm diameter), which are white, weathering to brown over time. Each egg sac contains approximately 250 eggs and only one to three weeks need to pass before more eggs can be laid. These sacs are suspended within the web. Sometimes small ichneumonid wasps parasitise them, puncturing each sac with tiny holes. The young spiderlings hatch in two to four weeks. Spiderlings are cannibalistic and will eat unhatched eggs and other spiderlings.  The spiderlings disperse by ballooning to another suitable nest site on long silk threads that are caught by air currents.

Females mature on average in about four months. The smaller male matures on average in about 90 days. Females may live for two to three years, whereas males only live for about six or seven months.

Mating and reproduction

Male Redback Spiders do not produce a web, but may be found on the fringe of a female's web, especially during the summer mating season. The male has to make overtures to the female to discover whether she is ready to mate, which can prove fatal if she mistakes him for prey. It has been found that in order to occupy the female's attention during mating, the male spider offers her his abdomen by standing on his head and 'somersaulting' his abdomen towards her mouthparts. The female begins to squirt digestive juices onto the male's abdomen while the first palp is inserted. If he is not too weak, he will manage to withdraw, and then insert the second palp. She will continue to 'digest' his abdomen. Most males do not survive this process, which seems to be unique to Latrodectus hasselti.

Predators, Parasites and Diseases

Daddy-long-legs Spiders and White-tailed Spiders are known to catch and kill Redback Spiders.

Evolutionary Relationships

It was once thought that the Redback Spider, Latrodectus hasselti, was a sub species of the Black Widow Spider but it is now known to be a distinct species.

It has also been suggested by some workers that the Redback may not be native to Australia but have been introduced since European settlement, although it's not clear where they originated.

Recent research on the DNA sequences of all recognized Latrodectus species indicates that the Redback is a distinct species, most closely related to the New Zealand Katipo, and probably an Australian native.

Redbacks have most likely become much more common since European settlers started providing them with lots of the kinds of places they like to make webs in.

Living with us

Danger to humans and first aid

Redback bites occur frequently, particularly over the summer months. More than 250 cases receive antivenom each year, with several milder envenomations probably going unreported. Only the female bite is dangerous. They can cause serious illness and have caused deaths. However, since Redback Spiders rarely leave their webs, humans are not likely to be bitten unless a body part such as a hand is put directly into the web, and because of their small jaws many bites are ineffective. The venom acts directly on the nerves, resulting in release and subsequent depletion of neurotransmitters.

Common early symptoms are pain (which can become severe), sweating (always including local sweating at bite site), muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting. Antivenom is available. No deaths have occurred since its introduction.

Apply an ice pack to the bitten area to relieve pain. Do not apply a pressure bandage (venom movement is slow and pressure worsens pain). Collect the spider for positive identification. Seek medical attention.

Classification

Species:
hasselti
Genus:
Latrodectus
Family:
Theridiidae
Order:
Araneae
Class:
Arachnida
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  • Simon-Brunet, S. 1994. The Silken Web: a natural history of Australian Spiders. Reed Books.
  • Preston-Mafham, R. 1991. The Book of Spiders and Scorpions. Quarto Publishing.
  • Pyers, G. 1999. Australian Animals: Spiders. Heinemann Library.
  • Forster, L. 1995. The behavioural ecology of Latrodectus hasselti (Thorell), the Australian Redback Spider (Araneae: Theridiidae): a review. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No. 52: 13-24.
  • York Main, B. 1976. Spiders. The Australian Naturalist Library, Collins, Sydney.
  • Garb, J. E., A. Gonzalez, & R. G. Gillespie (2004). The black widow spider genus Latrodectus (Araneae: Theridiidae): phylogeny, biogeography, and invasion history. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 31, 1127-1142.


Last Updated: 23 November 2011

67 comments

Christine Hadden-Stanton

chrissy3095
10.02 AM, 03 February 2012

Hello, I found this in my house about 3 weeks ago, just yesterday we found what looks to be a baby redback which was found in the same area of the house this spider was, this one is tiny with long spindly legs but is light brownish in colour, no red mark on it back, same type of body as a redback but the legs were kind of striped, I know there are some spiders that can be mistaken as a redback, so can you clarify if this is actually a redback??? I know there is a distinct red mark on it's back and there was a bit on underneath it too, but HOPING I'm mistaking this as a red back :/

Comment Attachment

Rebecca Siggery

Bec_booboo
11.01 PM, 21 January 2012

I was bitten by a spider toay that was about 10mm in length and was an opaque yellowish colour with lots of eyes and on its abdomen had 4 small brown dots. It left a large lump and a red colour around it on the skin. The hospital couldn't identify the spider I took into them and was told to watch for any symptoms. I feel neasous and have a headache, all the swelling and redness has disappeared now no blood was drawn when I was bitten. Could this be a baby redback and how dangerouse are their bites. Thank-you.

Pamela Neilson

Pammy
5.12 PM, 20 December 2011

I was wondering if its possible that the redback could come as an albino as I found a pure white spider in my yard which is shaped exactly as a red back. I have researched and cannot find this spider online anywhere. I have lots of normal red backs but this one has just appeared recently.

Louise Carter STAFF

Louise Carter
11.11 AM, 23 November 2011

@kiwigirl12 The spider in your pic is not a Redback and is not dangerous.  From what we can tell it is in the same family as Redbacks (Theridiidae) but can not give you a definte id without looking at the spider.

Nerissa Gleeson

Kiwigirl12
2.11 PM, 16 November 2011

Hi, I was wondering if someone could tell me what kind of spider this is. It has diamond-shaped marking on its back. Not sure if its a young redback or some other garden spider? I'm in Melbourne and found it outside whilst gardening & clearing dead branches. Its body is about 7mm long..

Comment Attachment

Louise Carter STAFF

Louise Carter
8.10 AM, 13 October 2011

@anncast527 - Unfortunately I can't tell very much from the picture you attached.  As you live in the US for more information you should contact the American Arachnological Society http://www.americanarachnology.org and hopefully they will be able to answer your questions.

Annie Castaneda

anncast725
3.10 PM, 03 October 2011

Hi, I live in South Texas, and I would like to know what kind of spider is this. It looks like a male Redback, but I don't live in Austrailia. Could you help me out please? Thanks!

Comment Attachment

Sky Walker

skywalka
6.09 PM, 11 September 2011

@Louise Thankyou

Louise Carter STAFF

Louise Carter
3.08 PM, 17 August 2011

@skywalka - Thanks for sending in a pic.  No this isn't a juvenile red back, from what we can tell from the image it is a Steatoda species.  A lot of people commonly mistake these spiders as Red Backs.  Check out the the fact sheet for Steatoda's http://www.australianmuseum.net.au/Cupboard-Spider

Sky Walker

skywalka
11.08 AM, 17 August 2011

Hi guys. We've had problems with redbacks in the same places over 4 or 5 years. Found this spider in a redback looking web today. Do you think this is a baby redback?

Comment Attachment

Louise Carter STAFF

Louise Carter
2.05 PM, 12 May 2011

@teff & @felixnoir - Its sounds like the spiders you are describing are 'brown house spiders' or 'cupboard spiders' (Family: Theridiidae, Genus: Steatoda). But its hard to give a definate answer without having a specimen or a good image.  Brown house spiders are definately not a sub-species of Red Backs.

@jpnorton - its difficult to tell from your pic but the spider looks to be a type of Garden Orb.  Have a look at the Garden Orb fact sheet to get some more information.  These spiders have various colour combinations.

@kel - Male redback spiders are actually pretty small in comparision to the females, unless you were looking for them specifically you wouldn't notice them in the females web.

Tom Mueller

kctmueller
5.04 AM, 26 April 2011

I enjoyed reading your experiences with red backs. Believe it or not, red backs are not just in Aussie Land. I live in the States and got bitten late last year. I actually found the spider and put it in a jar for verification. Trust me...It was NOT a black widow. The initial symptoms were somewhat like you all have described. Before I knew I was even bitten by a red back, the primary side effect was malaise. I didn't want to get out of bed. Then later that day, I began vomiting and it continued through the night. I even had a nightmare about a spider before I knew I was bitten. The only reason I knew I had been bitten, was because I noticed what looked like two very small scabs on my calf, with a white circle around them, then a green circle around the white one. I never even "felt" the bite. I chose not to get the antivenom, because I had heard that a fairly big percentage of people who get the antivenom, have a worse reaction to the antivenom than they do to the actual bite. Six months later...I still have side effects: Insomnia, vomiting and sweating. The side effects occur randomly and may be once a week, once every two weeks or once a month. I wouldn't wish a red back spider bite...upon anyone. It's not a lot of fun.

Jason Avion

Uncle Jas
9.04 PM, 16 April 2011

Jpnorton- That ia one hell-ofa-a-spider and I would have loved to have been the one to find it. Note the thickness of the front legs to the back. More charactaristic of a hunter. Chris Daniels from the uni SA will be able to identify it. He is very approachable and comes on the ABC here in Adelaide often to talk about grubs and animals and you seem to have something unique. For the rest- I once bred these little buggers. The toxin is extremly slow working. Get bitten? Have a cup of tea, relax, go to the hospital. I know of no deaths since 1956. I believe that it takes about 2 days for the toxin to reach maximum effect. Another thing, they will always go up if disturbed. Get one on a stick, hold the bottom, it will go up. This is because they build under things, so up is protection. And no, I believe they are not native. I have never seen them in a natural setting.

Kelly Gilligan

kel
10.04 AM, 06 April 2011

Teff. It sounds like the male red back as they do not have the red stripe. Only the female has a red stripe. baby female redbacks will have broken white lines which become red later. Males live in the same web as a female. They will only live up to 8 months compared to the female which can live for a few years. They are beautiful animals and I have a large female one as a pet at the moment!

Geoff Byng

felixnoir
4.04 AM, 01 April 2011

These spiders were definitely not Steadata.

Geoff Byng

felixnoir
3.04 AM, 01 April 2011

I am interested in what Teff says. When I was living in Bellingen, I had three species of what appeared to be widow-type spiders living in my place, which was a converted stables. They all lived near water. Under the sink were a few redbacks, which I cleared out (I am confident with spiders and in Sydney often used to catch and remove funnelwebs that had wandered into the house in Lindfield, next to the national park). These spiders were then replaced by others that looked very similar but were very small, about 2mm, and mid-brown with transparent bodies. However at the top of the concrete shower stall, near the skylight, were twenty or thirty spiders that seemed to like light, steam, and damp. They were a definite black widow shape - like a redback, but no red mark - shiny black. However they were quite big-their abdomen was about 1 cm. I couldn't catch them, but I was bitten once by a stray. I don't remember clearly, but from memory, it caused a quite painful red bump about 2 cm across on my arm that took a week or so to go away. I would be interested to hear if the Museum knows what this spider is. Spiders are common in the area. I understand there is some debate about whether black house spiders cause necrotising bites. A friend of mine was bitten at the side of the eye by a black house spider. This caused a necrotised area about 4mm across that took about three weeks to develop and heal.

Joseph Norton

jpnorton
5.03 PM, 29 March 2011

Hi, i found this spider today and I would like info on what it is. It appears to be an orb weaver, it is the size of one and behaved as one. Large web out in the open, however it has a large red stripe. Thanks

Comment Attachment

Richard Teffer

teff
12.01 PM, 15 January 2011

I am very familiar with redback spiders and realise they can vary widely in distribution and colour eg black with red-stripe in Sydney or brown with more orangey-red stripe in the kimberley region. Its just that I have a number of red-back shaped spiders in my worm farm that totally lack any stripe. They are just black. Is this a population of black widows from the USA? There are at least 5 adult females present with numerous white eggsac balls, and of course lots of little males also present, but the females totally lack any stripe or colouring other than black.I've been studying them for a couple of months now to see if any colour appears, but nothing so far. Is anyone able to tell me if this is a sub-species of red-back or something different?

Kat Vincent

Kat
2.01 AM, 11 January 2011

I was bitten by a Red back last week. It was very painful. I suffered localised burning pain and swelling at the bite site and redness that extended over time. I was a distance from medical advice and treated it ice immediately then applied Magnaplasm about 4 hours later to draw the venom. The next morning i experienced partial paralysis of the face and deafness in the same ear for a short time accompanied by a severe headache. Following this i decided to place Tiger Balm swab over the bite for the day and following night. To my amazement the following morning the redness had reduced and the burning had become less. I still had a headache and even now have the same. The symptoms have become less and the obvious bite signs are diminishing also. I am interested in the application of Tiger Balm, the fact that i was already taking antihistamines for allergies and the fact that i was bitten in a no fleshy area as factors in my recovery. I am still experiencing headache and redness and itching at the bite site and a general feeling that im not quite right but overall i feel that i have recovered very well and quicker than expected.

Victoria Kwan

vickyk
11.12 PM, 07 December 2010

Smurk - I have a young child too and he will act the same as your children. I would get a pest controller to spray given summer is coming up and my child will want to spend time outdoor. Usually, these spiders are found in dark areas. So, may be an open and clear outdoor area, i.e. without bricks, logs, pots etc for your children to play.

Christy Lang

Christy12
4.12 PM, 07 December 2010

Hi there I was biten on the breast earlier this year by a female redback! I found it a very slow and painful vemonating process, my symptoms gradually worsened and approx 9 hrs after the encounter I was administered 2 viles of the antivenom, my symptoms included nusea, malaise, Brachycardia sweating and not just at the localized area but all over! How ever I am all recovered and just a little more wary now! I was wondering if somebody can help me identify this spider, similar body structure of a redback but a peculiar lime green colour with a white stripe on the abdomon. First thoughts were a juvenile of some sort? please see attachment Thanks :)

Comment Attachment

Sosso Lapro

Smurk
12.11 PM, 15 November 2010

Hi there. I live in Canberra and I have a few redbacks in my garden. I don't know how to deal with them. I have two young kids (1.5 and 3 yo). If I tell them not to touch the spiders, the first thing they will do is go there and touch it. If I don't say anything, they may eventually touch it (even not on purpose, under a pot or I don't know what). And I can't teach them to recognize it, because they are too young for that. I am quite affraid of spiders myself, but I try to have a "relaxed" behaviour with them, because I want my kids not to be affraid of spiders. So what should I do? Will I really know if my kids are bitten? (if they are quite tolerant with pain, they may just complain mildly and I would not see that they need medical attention...) Otherwise, if I see they are bitten and I can't find the spider, should I go to the hospital? Should I buy now an antivenom or I don't know what, just in case? Should I move any red back away as soon as I see it? Should I always check everywhere around the house? Thanks for your help! (sorry for the possible mistakes, English is not my native language)

Kate Green

Kagey
12.10 AM, 30 October 2010

Just noticed quite a few comments of juvenile redbacks thought i would add this beautifully marked Red Back Juvenile.

Comment Attachment

Jasmine Abdullah

Jasmine.A
5.10 PM, 08 October 2010

I am curious if anyone has ever heard a red back spider making a kind of squeaking hissing noise? I saw one on my window sill just a few hours ago and it was running back and forth along the sill making this noise. I tried to gently coax it outside but it became agitated and started to get defensive and aggressive. I've lived in Australia my whole life and have NEVER come across anything like this. I've tried to research this "phenomenon" but there doesn't seem to be any info available.

Peter Macinnis

peter-macinnis
2.09 PM, 20 September 2010

A small historical note: I have been trying to track news reports of early spider bite deaths in the National Library's TROVE newspaper collection, and most accounts seem to start in the 1930s. I pushed the record back by searching on Latrodectus, which made me realise that the redback used to be a "red-striped spider". Mr Rainbow of the Australian Museum was writing on the issue as early as 1907. I am yet to find the name that must previously have been given to funnelwebs. Annoyingly, there was a horse called Atrax in the 1920s!

Chris Shannon

shanno
5.08 PM, 13 August 2010

I was bitten by a redback . I got up to clean the gutters at 3 AM one night and then went back to bed. I found itch and pain in my right shoulder similar to getting a needle. So i got up but saw no mark on my arm and just went back to bed. Throughout the next day I had the characteristic sweating (oily skin)localised around the itch so about 12 Hrs after the bite I checked the jacket I had worn - sure enough there was a red back spider in my jacket. The marks on my shoulder did not appear noticeable until a day later and the pain was like being stabbed by the doctor with a needle - on a scale about 2 out of ten. I had no nasea or paralasis just the usual oily skin local to the bite.

rob the forex trading coach Robert

robertforex
1.07 AM, 30 July 2010

This information is brilliant. I have had situations of spiders in the house and have looked up whether these are poisonous or not as the information has given me confidence to catch and release the spider outside into the wild.

Comment Attachment

laura caven

cavecoo
1.07 PM, 08 July 2010

I have recently moved to south Australia from England and am really freaking out about being bitten by a red back or something else. I would just like to no weather red backs come in the house or weather they can bite the same person twice at once?????????

Helen Smith STAFF

Helen Smith
2.06 PM, 21 June 2010

hello Erna, Are you writing from northern Australia? Your spider looks like a large species of pholcid (daddy long legs) called Artema atlanta. They are a harmless introduced species that occurs in many warm climates. As for the colour of the redbacks in your yard - an adult female Redback spider can be black with a red stripe, through to brown with an orange stripe (the stripe is on the top surface of the absomen), and they always have a distinctive orange/red "hourglass" patch on the underside. In Australia there are relatives of redback spiders called Steatoda (sometimes called cupboard spiders) and some species of those can look rather similar but usually without any stripe and without the underside marking. Young female redback spiders and males have less red and black and lots of white. As females get towards maturity they gradually lose the white. All stages have the red mark on the underside but it is sometimes pale and with white around it in small specimens so harder to see.

nichole sullivan

nicjillaroo
12.06 PM, 19 June 2010

The information and comments on this page have been very useful. Since a few months ago I had a massive surge of daddy long legs in my outdoor toilet/shower/shed which I haven't seen in the 3 years I've lived here. Then I noticed a few small (what I now understand to be male) redbacks hanging around my push bikes literally. Good to know the daddy long legs are their predators but I decided to clean up all the webs and found a great big fat female behind my toilet under the cistern. I killed her then kept digging for the web when I found the bundle of empty egg sacks (about 8). I shiver to read that each one produces 250 eggs. What is the percentage of the the sibling canablism? Anyhow I don't normally kill things - I even let white tail go as they like to run away. But no, not the red back. They like to crawl up into your things (like bikes and toilets) and they are good at hiding once they do that. So I have decided to go and buy spray - I've never even owned any spray but I am worried about a plague. Even though they are not so deadly I don't like the risk (crawling into bike helmets and wet suits). One thing I'd like to add about the males appearance is that they seem to have slightly browner legs with white pin stripes around them. So keep spider friendly but not if you have an invasion of redbacks. Stop em in their tracks I say! Cheers.

Erna Roberson

aeroberson
2.06 PM, 17 June 2010

Hi there, We get several redbacks in our yard due to a cricket infestation we currently have, however, some of these spiders aren't always black, they're sometimes a light brown colour, but the same shape as a redback (juvenile perhaps?). Their webs are also the same as a redback. I recently found this one underneath our chest of drawers in the house - it was as long as the skirting is high! Please can you identify so I know for sure whether it's a redback or not (could it be a juvenile at that size?). Thanks in advance!

Comment Attachment

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
10.05 AM, 10 May 2010

Dear all - thankyou for all of your comments detailing your experiences with suspected or verified Redback Spider bites. While we value your feedback, we are not a medical institution and cannot comment on or endorse any form of treatment. We can only advise on the biology of these spiders and/or help with identification of specimens. Please seek professional medical aid and advice on bites and reactions.

Mark Taylor

diver_below
12.05 AM, 09 May 2010

Hi i just wanted to share a bad experience i had with a red back spider on the the 1/5/2010 i was going for a scuba dive at camp cove when i put my wet suit on the ground i noticed a small spider going towards it i got my foot a pushed it away from me, i was puting on my wet suit and my dive gear as i was walking to the water i was getting bitten by something sevral times got my buddie to kill it and sqash it in my wet suit thought it was a ant i tottaly forgot about the spider i pushed away earlier.I was in the water for a bout 15 min when i sudenly got a very bad pain in my chest but it went away then about 60min into the dive i notice i was feeling sick i made my way to the suface as i swam to shore i was laying on the beach vomiting up. I went home and layed down after a while i came good i drove to a friends place as time went on i felt worse thought i was going to pass out i went home, about 2 am in the morning notice a very sore and painful burning on my back it was the bites on my back and relized that spider i pushed away must have got into my wet suit and bit me about 5 times on my back, i fell asleep i woke up for work did half a shift and collapsed as work had to get a ambulance to st george hospital where i found out i had been bitten by a female red back spider they told me the male doesnt make u sick at all but the female can make u very sick but cant kill u and its very painful it was and more as it when on. They told me about the antivenom and what it can do to u if u have a reaction to it so i didnt have it as time when on for a few days i was experiencing in my body that something was trying to get out i was so much in pain and sweating,muscular weakness,stiffness,swelling of the bites dizziness and fainting i then collapsed on the 4/5/2010 and rushed to prince of wales hospital where they gave me the antivenom well im still sick and suffering with so much pain and wanted to know if im having a reaction to the antivenom or is this part of the poison getting out of my body i hope someone from here can tell me. How can i stop all this pain.

Matt Dasey

Jurienbay
12.05 PM, 01 May 2010

Hi I thought I'd share my experience of being bitten by a redback spider this week! Nowhere near as awful as I was expecting! I've been terrified of these spiders all my life! I suppose that it might be a different story if I'd had an anaphylactic reaction but it wasn't any more painful than an ant or bee sting really. The spider was in my bicycle helmet and as I cycled to work she dropped onto my neck and bit me on throat a couple of times. Then she crawled into my shirt and bit me a couple more times on the back - she ended up getting crushed there under the weight of the backpack. I can't say I actually noticed the bites because I was concentrating on the road. I got to work and sat down at my desk and noticed these stinging spots on me, and thought maybe it was a grass seed in my shirt, scratching me! Gradually over the next 15-20 minutes the lymph node in my armpit really swelled up and started to ache - as did the bites on my neck and back. While it was a bit painful at the site of the bite the most noticeable thing was the spreading ache across the whole neck and back area. Much more widespread than a bee or ant sting but not a lot more painful. I found the spider when I went to a mirror to look at my back and the spider fell out (dead). I went down to our town's medical centre and my blood pressure and pulse were fine so they gave me an anti-hystamine and I went home! Basically the anti-hystamine made me too sleepy to work. I was back at work the next day. The whole of body ache persisted for about 24 hours - I had some minor leg cramps and a minor headache. Five days later now the bites are still kind-of itchy/irritiated and it is still very sweaty around the bites! It is 4 days since the bite and still the spots I got bitten at get suddenly painful for 30 seconds and then fade back to being just itchy. Perhaps because the skin is sweaty around the bites constantly. Anyway, while I wouldn't recommend getting bitten on purpose it is a bit of a relief to me to now know what to expect should I get bitten again! I live 300km north of Perth and there are lots of redbacks around our house! One thing I won't be doing though is leaving my bicycle helmet outside over the weekend! Matt

David Laurie

Bovver Boy
4.05 AM, 01 May 2010

The only good Redback around your yard is a dead Redback... The preferred method of removing that little rascal from your letterbox is to squish it on the end of a blunt stick, or using a pair of thick and tough gloves, (i.e. gardening, riggers, or welding gloves..). Just make sure you squash them before they bite you - after being bitten once (by one under a beehive's bottom-board..), I don't give them another chance these days.

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
9.04 AM, 20 April 2010

@mrbear - glad our information helped you to get some perspective on spiders. While the Redback Spider is classed as a dangerous spider, you can easily take precautions to avoid them and/or remove them safely when you find their webs. However, there is no surefire way to keep spiders out of the house - in fact, excluding spiders may be detrimental. Spiders are a great form of natural pest control, catching flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches et.c. plus spraying your house with pesticides is probably not great for your own health!

Joseph Ahmed

mrbear
3.04 AM, 18 April 2010

Oh I should add...I'm feeling much better after reading the info on this website. Thanks for the details you have provided. Much more reassured now. Why is the conception out there that red backs are SO EXTREMELY dangerous compared to other spiders we find in our homes? Is there any effective way to keep spiders completely out of the house? Apologies if this forum is not the right place for these questions. Thanks.

Joseph Ahmed

mrbear
3.04 AM, 18 April 2010

I am 99.9% sure I have encountered my first ever red back spider in our garage tonight. It's scaring the crap outta me. I dont get along well with spiders :( http://www.flickr.com/photos/82722166@N00/sets/72157623875966964/ I also think I saw a teeny tiny baby one in the bathroom a few days ago but not exactly sure. If it was though, do I need to get the house checked out? The garage and bathroom are not exactly close to each other so I'm a bit freaked. I know...gotta calm down but damn all my hairs are on end!!!

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
8.04 AM, 14 April 2010

@blueback - please see my comment below regarding identifying spiders - we really need an image to be able to help you, but it wouldn't be a Redback :)

dylan lee

blueback
9.04 PM, 13 April 2010

Hi,Im trying to find out if redbacks can have a blue stripe if not what sort of spider is it.

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
10.04 AM, 13 April 2010

@whitetiger - without seeing a photo it is hard to tell you what your spider is, but it would not be a cross-species of any kind. Have a look at some of our Australian Spider images to see if your spider more closely resembles any other species there. If you can get a photo, send it as an attachment to our Search and Discover information and enquiry service for an ID.

WARREN ZAMBRA

whitetiger
12.04 PM, 09 April 2010

I have just caught a spider (redback???) in the back yard in some empty planter pots, it had a web similar to a redback but also had a silky type web surrounding the spider. It is not your normal type redback it has a long body (similar to a whitetail) it has six white dots 3 on either side from the middle of it's abdomen with a single v shape bar near where it joins the front part of it's body (cephalothorax) then a white band closer again to the cephalothorax, it's legs are a pale yellow colour with the joints being a very dark colour almost black, it appears to have a red spot on the top of it's head, but the main thing about it is has that telltale red stripe at it's tail, it is very aggressive and moves very fast, could this be a cross type species of redback with another type of spider.

Graham Milledge STAFF

Graham Milledge
10.04 AM, 01 April 2010

Hi Nerida,

Your spider appears to be a species of Orb Weaver, possibly a Neoscona sp. These are not closely related to Redbacks and are not regarded as dangerous. It is not a spider you would normally find in the house so may have been carried in on a plant or perhaps clothes that were hung out to dry.

 

Nerida Noy

Nerida
11.03 AM, 31 March 2010

Hi I have just caught a spider that looks and acts just like a redback. Same in every way including the web but the spider is white, with the same stripe down its abdomen but it is an even whiter white. I can't find anything to identify it and as I found it in the house, and I have two young children, I'd really like to know what it is. Thankyou.

Comment Attachment

Rick Olsen

Ricko
1.03 PM, 30 March 2010

Thanks :) Yes I know that would have been ideal, but I wasn't in a position to take one at the time. I will make sure I take on next time, but hoping not to run into one that big again! We have many regular sized ones around the outside of the house and in the brickwork, but I will keep an eye out. cheers :)

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
11.03 AM, 30 March 2010

HI Ricko - all the information we have about Redback Spiders suggest that the female spiders have a body (i.e. the abdomen or back part with the stripe) about the size of a large pea - around 1cm across. We have heard nothing to suggest that they are much bigger. A photo attachment to a comment would be helpful, with something in the photo for scale (eg a ruler, a coin etc). This would be the best way for us to see if these spiders are particularly or unusually large.

Rick Olsen

Ricko
2.03 PM, 29 March 2010

Hi, I've seen many many redbacks over the years in all parts of queensland, but since moving to a relatively new housing estate near Caboolture, I have seen a couple of monster mutant redbacks. The latest was only 2 days ago when I killed one in our inside garage in a large web that sprung up over night attached to our car wheel. They are commonly described as being around the size of a 5c piece, but this one was huge, and bigger than a 50c pice including legs. The body was very large as well. This is the second one I've seen that size - there was one on the outside wall when we moved in. I spotted this large black spider from across the yard and went for a closer look and was shocked to discover it was a redback! This is very scarey and I'm worried about our dogs or getting one in the house. Have you heard any other reports of oversized redbacks around??

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
9.03 AM, 23 March 2010

@Travis253: your spider is most likely a juvenile Redback Spider.  I can't say what the effects of a juvenile versus an adult would be, but treat with caution and perhaps clear the 'accessible' area of webs et.c.

@JCR: nice photo of a Red and Black Spider. These spiders belong to the Family Nicodamidae and are not considered dangerous spiders, although they can possibly cause some pain or swelling at the bite site. They are often confused with Redback Spiders but, as you can see, the coloration is quite different on closer inspection.

Jean-Christophe Rey

JCR
10.03 PM, 20 March 2010

Hi, I've seen a spider which I've thought first for redback, but it's not actually : could you please help me to identify her ? : http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8830/1000650.jpg Regards Jean-Christophe

Travis Hansen

Travis253
3.03 PM, 19 March 2010

Hi, is this a juvenile Redback? Male, Female? It was found in the morning in a very accessible spot to my curious twin 1-year-olds. Glad I found it first. If it is a juvenile female, is it just as dangerous? Kind Regards, Travis

Comment Attachment

Martyn Robinson STAFF

Martyn Robinson
10.03 AM, 09 March 2010

Hello Barb,

Yes, the colour of a Red-back Spiders stripe is quite variable and can range from a pale cream through to a bright nailpolish red. Males and many young females often have white markings as well. However, there are also a number of very similar shaped spiders which can have these markings but are NOT Red-backs. Various species of the 'cupboard' and flowerpot' spiders (Genus Steatoda) can have white markings - and in some cases even red markings, or no markings at all. We often get enquiries about these 'red-back spiders only without a red back' at the museum. They are not considered dangerous but as with all spider bites and insect stings if you feel unwell afterwards seek medical advice as people can have different reactions to venoms. It you want to be sure of the identity of your spider please send in an image (j'peg and not too large please)

S

M

Barbara Chapman

Barb
10.02 AM, 27 February 2010

Can redbacks have a white stripe instead of a red stripe?

Martyn Robinson STAFF

Martyn Robinson
1.02 PM, 24 February 2010

Hello Cossie,

It may have been an unusually marked Red-back Spider - but then again it may have been another species of spider (there are several spiders with a very similar shape and pattern). Is it possible to photograph the specimen and send in an image to this e'mail or to sand@austmus.gov.au? We can identify or confirm identities much better from a photo than from a description.

Thanks in advance

S

M

Kerri Hartley

Cossie
3.02 PM, 22 February 2010

Hello, I am hoping you can help me confirm the identity of a spider I found unexpectedly amoungst my mail this morning. I thought the spider was a redback; it was black, had spindlely legs and had the distinct red hourglass shaped stripe on its abdomen. However on closer inspection, this spider also had two, or possibly three, thin orange/red lines running laterally across its abdomen. I didn't kill the spider but released it into the garden. Thanks in advance for your help. Cossie

Martyn Robinson STAFF

Martyn Robinson
11.02 AM, 04 February 2010

Hello Gazza & Josh,

Gazza-  male Redbacks are considered harmless as they are so tiny their fangs would have difficulty piercing skin anyway. However, as you found a male the chances that there are females nearby is pretty high. You might want to remove them from inside your house but what you decide to do with them then is up to you. If they don't bother you or your neighbors then you can just ignore them. They are as good at insect control as any other similar spider.

Josh - I don't think you can get antivenom for home use as it should be administered by someone in the medical profession and stored carefully before use. It should be realised that for MOST people the treatment for Redback bites is simply an ice-pack to reduce the swelling and pain. However as Ondine says treat all bites as potentially serious particularly if children or people with allergies to insect stings are concerned, until told otherwise by a doctor.

The other important thing to note is that bites are rare compared to most other accidents and you have to be very unlucky to be bitten. Redbacks are very common in many areas and people have lived alongside them with mostly few problems for all of Australia's human history. Death by lightning strike is 19 times more likely than death from spider bite and no-one has died from spider bite in Australia since 1980. Certainly take care, warn children what not to do, and remove any Redbacks from areas where they might cause problems (e.g. inside the house) but dangers from spiders are very exaggerated.

Sincerely

Martyn Robinson

Joshua Whateley

Josh
2.02 PM, 03 February 2010

Hello we have just recently found and killed 26 redbacks in a week last night 16 is there a way that you would be able to get hold of anti venom and supply it in your first aid kit because 26 in the one spot but spreaded out a 1 Mtr is a worry and out in the open were you walk please email me at joshua-parker@hotmail.com under spider for the subject

Garrick Macquine

Gazza
11.01 PM, 30 January 2010

Hello, I found a redback I do believe Male as it was quite slender in a web underneath my oven. I took the redback outside carefully watching it and brushed it into the garden. Should I have killed it? Is it true the male is not deadly? Are there likely to be others around? So many questions. Im jumpy right now and checking for webs everywhere.

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
10.01 AM, 27 January 2010

Hi countryaustraliaa - A Redback Spider bite is a serious prospect for anyone. However, it is a fact that people with compromised immunity, children and the elderly may be even more susceptible to toxic spider and other bites. In ANY case, treat all suspected venomous bites as potentially dangerous and seek medical attention immediately. Our page on Spider bites and venoms has more information about how venoms work and also first aid for bites. Note that Pressure immoblisation is NOT recommended for Redback bites as it actually increases pain. However, if you have not caught, or definitely identified, the spider (or other animal) responsible, you must treat any bite as possibly dangerous until proven otherwise.

caralyn corbell

countryaustraliaa
6.01 PM, 24 January 2010

Are redbacked spider bites dangerous to pregnet women?

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
10.01 AM, 14 January 2010

Tasdevil, you have raised an interesting point of discussion. I have contacted our Arachnology section, which has provided me with some information and a reference to a research paper, both of which I have added to the main page above. See Evolutionary Relationships (and the reference is the last one listed). An interesting line of thought!

craig heading

tasdevil
10.01 PM, 09 January 2010

Hi. my uncle told me there was debate in the scientific community whether the redback was indeed native to australia as they were only "discovered" recently (maybe 100 years ago - what about the other 120 years of our post first-fleet history??). Also he said there was no aboriginal word nor mythology for the redback (yet there is for the funnel-web). So I went to the library got out a book on australian spiders it said the same thing. The author suspected it was really the black widow that came over and the different markings are a result of evolution (BTW I have seen black widows when i lived in california they look almost identical in size/shape/markings and their webs). Has there been any DNA testing yet to ascertain native status? (I need to know whether to kill them as in introduced pest or to leave them be as a native species). Thank you.

Martyn Robinson STAFF

Martyn Robinson
11.01 AM, 05 January 2010

Hello Nicky,

Ondine's suggestion is a good one but if you're nervous of spiders you might want to get someone else to do this. Alternately you could spray the inside of your letterbox with either Citronella or Eucalyptus oils. This will drive the spider out and the residual odour will prevent others from taking up residence.

'magpies' your roof spiders may well be Red-backs but check that they DO actually have red backs as there's some very similar spiders which lack this marking. They aren't colonial but an area where there is a lot of food will often attract quite a few and allow them to survive in close proximity to one another. As to the roof being a suitable site - it's certainly possible but they are usually closer to ground level.

S

M

earl mitcham

magpies
9.01 AM, 05 January 2010

hi, i have been told that i have a group of redback spiders in my roof? is it common for them to be in a group? and in a roof? thanks earl

Ondine Evans STAFF

Ondine Evans
11.01 AM, 04 January 2010

Hi Nicky. Redback Spiders are not particularly jumpy, so you could probably stick a feather duster or small brush in there, swirl it around to get the web and spider, then extract it all and dispose of it away from the letterbox. Wear thick gloves if you are a bit concerned about it getting on you!

Nicky C

nicky
6.01 PM, 03 January 2010

There's a red back in my letter box. Any ideas how to get it out with out spraying insecticide?

Report misuse

Would you like to add a comment?

Sign up to add comments and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.

Forgotten your password?

Would you like to add a tag?

Sign up to add tags and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.

Forgotten your password?

Redback Spider, Latrodectus hasselti

Redback Spider, Latrodectus hasselti View full size
Mike Gray © Australian Museum

Featured product

Spiderwatch: a Guide to Australian Spiders
 Spiderwatch: a Guide to Australian Spiders

Bert Brunet - Published by Reed New Holland 1998, (Paperback)

Price: $29.95

Buy Online

Support us

Your support will have a real impact.

Donate now

Online Shop
Great gifts.

Australian Museum Members
Join today.

Australian Museum Business Services
Professional consulting.

Museum as a Venue
Unique spaces.

Media Resources
Contact Publicity.