Redback Spider
Latrodectus hasselti
A small, medically significant Australian spider found in dry, sheltered spots around homes. The female’s bite can cause severe pain and illness, and medical advice should be sought.
- Size (female)
- About 10 mm body
- Marking
- Red stripe on black abdomen
- First aid
- Cold pack, seek medical advice
- Antivenom
- Available
Questions about the Redback Spider
How to identify a Redback Spider
Identification
- Female about 10 mm body, glossy black with an orange-red stripe on top of the abdomen.
- Males are much smaller and brown and rarely bite people.
- Messy, tangled web with sticky vertical threads to the ground.
Where it lives
- Under outdoor furniture, BBQs, play equipment, pot rims, letterboxes, sheds and meter boxes.
Behaviour
- Stays in its web; bites usually happen when a hand is placed on or near the web.
- Not aggressive.
Why it matters
Bites can cause intense local pain, sweating, nausea and generalised symptoms. Apply a cold pack and seek medical advice; do not use a pressure bandage for redback bites.
For advice call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, or 000 in an emergency.
More questions about spiders
All spider questions →Other spider species
Huntsman Spider
Family Sparassidae
Large, flat, fast-moving spiders that hunt insects on walls and under bark. They are alarming to many people but are not considered dangerous.
White-tailed Spider
Lampona spp.
A slender, dark hunting spider with a white tip on its abdomen that wanders indoors at night. Research has not supported the belief that its bite causes flesh-eating ulcers.
Spider guides
How to Pest-Proof Your Home
A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.
GuideCommon Brisbane Household Pests
A Brisbane-specific overview of the pests residents meet most often, when they are active, and what the subtropical climate, storms, creeks and Queenslander homes mean for pest pressure.
GuidePest Prevention Checklist
A printable seasonal checklist of simple, low-cost tasks that reduce pests around Australian homes, with the reason behind each step and extra lists for renters, apartment residents, pet owners and Queenslander owners.
Spiders by location
More about spiders
Spiders
Eight-legged predators that feed on insects. Most household spiders are harmless and useful, but a few Australian species, such as redbacks and funnel-webs, need to be treated with care.
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Sources & further reading
- Australian Museum — insects and spiders — Australian Museum
- healthdirect — bites, stings and infection information — healthdirect Australia
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