Home › Arachnida › Theridiidae › Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
SPECIES PROFILE
Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
Latrodectus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Arachnida
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Throughout Australia, warmer regions, not arid interiors
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Urban areas, gardens, sheds, woodlands, rock crevices
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Arthropoda
CLASS
Arachnida
ORDER
Araneae
FAMILY
Theridiidae
GENUS
Latrodectus
📋 Description
SIZE
Females 1 cm body, 3-4 cm leg span; males 3-4 mm
COLORATION
Females black, red/orange stripe on abdomen; males brown, white markings
ADAPTATIONS
Potent neurotoxic venom, irregular web for trapping prey
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Urban areas, gardens, sheds, woodlands, rock crevices
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Throughout Australia, warmer regions, not arid interiors
REPRODUCTION
Females lay 100-300 eggs, hatch 2-4 weeks, spiderlings disperse
DIET DETAILS
Feeds on insects (flies, beetles), occasionally small vertebrates
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
None significant, thrives in human-modified areas
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Venomous Webs: Redback spiders’ neurotoxic venom causes severe pain, ensnaring 50 flies weekly in Sydney ’s Parramatta sheds, their 1 cm bodies weaving irregular webs. Antivenom since 1956 prevents fatalities, with millions thriving in urban areas despite pest control.
2
Cannibalistic Mates: Females in Perth’s Fremantle gardens consume males post-mating, ensuring 300 eggs per sac in Adelaide Hills’ woodpiles. Their red stripe warns predators, supporting survival, though 20% of populations face spraying in human-modified habitats.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Sydney suburbs in New South Wales feature Parramatta and Blacktown gardens and sheds for redback spider sightings
Perth urban areas in Western Australia have Fremantle and Joondalup backyards for redback spider sightings
Adelaide Hills in South Australia offer Mount Lofty woodpiles and rocks for redback spider sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
September-March. Spring and summer increase spider activity in urban areas for web-building.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Search under Parramatta eaves, Fremantle eaves or Mount Lofty woodpiles at night with guides to spot redback webs.
