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PESTS:
REDBACK
SPIDERS
 Redback
spiders are part of the same family as the
Black Widow spider. This group of spiders
is found throughout the world in one form
or another. They vary in the amount of
danger they are to people as not all of
these spiders are as dangerous as the
Black Widow.
Females:
- Black
to brown growing to approximately 12mm
in body length.
- A
pea shaped abdomen with a scarlet or
orange strip on the back which is often
broken or outlines with fine white
markings.
- The
underneath of the abdomen has a
characteristic orange/red marking in
the shape of an hour-glass.
- Slender
black-brown legs.
Males:
- The
males mature quickly, growing to a size
of only 3mm in body length.
- They
do not lose the juvenile
characteristics.
- They
are too small to bite us and so are not
dangerous (there are only 2 recorded
male bites in history).
Juveniles:
- White
and black in colouring often with
elaborate patterns including lateral
stripes (occasionally these remain into
adulthood).
- Each
time the spiderlings moult, they lose
some of the juvenile characteristics
and develop more of the adult
colouring.
Habitat:
- Favour
rocky areas, logs, stumps and low
shrubs as well as sheds, under
flowerpots, garden furniture, outside
toilets and even under broad-leafed
vegetables.
- Funnel-type
of retreat: in the upper part of a
tangled network of silken threads.
Funnel is in a sheltered area, away
from sunlight, where it is well
sheltered and warm.
- Redbacks
are very easily transported around the
country. They or their egg sacs remain
hidden in goods or on trucks and
vehicles as they are transported. They
have even spread to Japan hidden in
crates.
Lifecycles:
Redbacks reproduce rapidly in warm
weather.
- The
small males mate twice with the same
female during each season. They throw
themselves onto her fangs after each
mating, dying after the second time.
This single session is sufficient to
fertilise the eggs produced by the
female for a period of 2
years.
- Females
live for 2-3 years and during this time
lay many thousands of eggs in sacs. The
sacs are cream in colour and contain
40-500 eggs, and each time she lays she
will produce 4-10 of these
sacs.
- The
spiderlings hatch in 2-4 weeks. The
first to do so eat unhatched eggs and
spiderlings before being dispersed by
the breeze which blows the light
spiderlings away attached to fine
silken threads.
Danger:
- Around
600 bites are recorded each year in
Australia normally during spring and
summer.
- Some,
though not all result in serious pain
and illness requiring antivenom. The
female has relatively small jaws often
resulting in ineffective
bites.
Treatment:
- Antivenom
has been available for 50 years, and
since its introduction there have been
no deaths.
- Do
not apply a pressure bandage for
Redback bites as they can aggravate the
pain. Because the molecules of the
venom are large they can take hours to
enter the bloodstream via the lymphatic
system.
- Apply
ice water to relieve pain.
- If a
bite is suspected, seek medical
attention.
ALWAYS
TRY TO CATCH THE SPIDER RESPONSIBLE AND
KEEP IT FOR IDENTIFICATION
PURPOSES.
What kind of
spider is it?
Redback
Spider
| Brown
House
Spider
| White
Tailed
Spider
| Huntsman
Spider
| Mouse
Spider
| Wolf
Spider
Our 25
years' experience ... your peace of
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Total
Pest Solutions
PO
Box 2083, South Plympton
South Australia. 5038.
Phone 1800 503 394
(08) 8297 4981
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