Bug FAQRedback Spider
Latrodectus hasselti · Order: Araneae · Family: Theridiidae
Also called: Red-back Spider, jockey spider
Source: Wikipedia
The female redback is about 1 cm long, black with a red stripe on top and an hour-glass mark underneath. It lives in untidy webs in warm, sheltered spots near homes and is responsible for many serious bites in Australia. Its venom is neurotoxic, causing severe pain that can last over a day.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The adult female has a round black abdomen with a red stripe on the top and an hour-glass red mark on the underside.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Females are about 10 mm long, while males are only 3 to 4 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Their preference for built structures makes them a common cause of serious spider bites in Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
Redback bites are medically serious; the neurotoxic venom causes intense pain that can spread up the limb and last more than 24 hours.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
An antivenom for redback bites has been available since 1956.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Females build untidy webs in warm, sheltered places, often near or inside human residences.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They catch insects, other spiders and small vertebrates in their webs. Males and spiderlings often steal leftovers from the female’s web.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
After mating, females store sperm for up to two years and can lay several clutches of about 250 eggs each in a white silk sac.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Females are mainly nocturnal and live in warm, sheltered spots near homes.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Redback spiders originate from Australia but are now also found in Southeast Asia, Japan, New Zealand and occasionally in crates in the United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
The taxonomy of the widow spider genus has been confusing, prompting detailed study because of their medical importance.
Source: Wikipedia
Questions people ask
Do redback spiders bite humans?
Yes, their bite delivers a neurotoxic venom that can cause severe, long-lasting pain.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I identify a female redback spider?
Look for a round black abdomen with a red stripe on top and an hour-glass red mark underneath.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are redback spiders likely to be found in a house?
In warm, sheltered spots such as corners, sheds or garages where they build untidy webs.
Source: Wikipedia
Is there a treatment for a redback bite?
Yes, an antivenom has been used since 1956 to treat serious bites.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Theridiidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redback_spider
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.