What is a redback spider?
The redback spider is a venomous Australian widow spider. The female is black with a bright red or orange stripe on her back and is found across Australia, often in sheds and gardens.
Female redbacks have a round body about one centimetre long, while males are much smaller and less noticeable. The females build messy, tangled webs in dry, sheltered places such as under outdoor furniture, in letterboxes, sheds and old tyres.
Thousands of redback bites are reported in Australia each year. Bites can cause intense pain, sweating and nausea, but deaths have not been recorded since antivenom became available in 1956.
Unusual mating
During mating, the male often somersaults so that his body sits near the female's mouth, and she may eat him. Scientists believe this helps the male father more young.
Redbacks have spread to New Zealand, Japan and other countries in shipping cargo.
For a bite, apply an ice pack and seek medical advice; a pressure bandage is not recommended.
Did You Know?
The redback is closely related to the black widow spider of North America.