Redback

Fact Box Species: Latrodectus hasseltii (QM) Previous species name: Latrodectus mactans hasselti Family: Theridiidae Body length: female: 12 mm male: 3 mm Habitat: Redgack spiders build tangled webs under ledges and in garden shrubs; the webs are untidy arrangements of tight threads with no obvious pattern and are usually close to the ground and in contact with it; most of the time the females are in a retreat of dead leaves bound with silk and there are several round egg sacs nearby Toxicity: Can cause death or serious illness, especially in young children and frail adults

In its retreat In its web Immature female Several instars Egg sac mass Views of the male

Redback spiders rarely become permanent residents of houses though they occasionally establish webs in open sheds. They can be found in poorly maintained lawns and in pumpkins and other broad-leafed vegetable crops. They are generally not common in eucalypt forests though in some forest areas the numbers have increased substantially in recent years.

The immature spiders vary in colour according to how recently they have moulted. Males are very small and are rarely noticed.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Achaearanea tepidariorum.