Redback

The red-back spider (Latrodectus hasselti) is a potentially dangerous spider now found throughout Australia. Its origins are uncertain, and it may have been spread by human activities during the 19th century. more...

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Red-back spiders are now found in all but the most inhospitable environments in Australia, particularly in urban and suburban areas.

Media in Japan have reported the discovery of red-back spiders in Osaka, Japan within a hundred kilometers of Kansai International Airport. It was speculated that they arrived in Japan by "hitching" a ride on the outside of airliners, or carried in cargoes of wood chips.

Red-back spiders are also found in small colonies in areas of New Zealand. These spiders were imported on Australian hardwood poles used for electric power and telephone. They are found around Wanaka in the South Island and New Plymouth in the North Island.

The red-back spider is related to the black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) found in North America and other regions but is smaller. Closer relatives are the katipo (Latrodectus katipo) and black katipo (Latrodectus atritus) spiders native to New Zealand. The female red-back has a round body about a centimetre long, with long, slender legs. The body is a deep black colour, often (but not always) containing a red line or small red dots on the abdomen. The male red-back is three to four millimetres long and is light brown in colour with white markings on the upper side of the abdomen. A related species is the brown widow spider, first located in Brisbane, Australia in 1987.

A successful bite from a female red-back injects a neurotoxin into the blood stream. These toxins produce their effects through destabilization of cell membranes and degranulation of nerve terminals resulting in the release of neuro-transmitters. Individuals bitten often describe the bite as extremely painful. Despite this (and in contrast to common belief in Australia) deaths from the red-back have been rare: A single death has been reported since the introduction of antivenom in 1956. It is, however, recommended to seek medical attention following a bite. This is particularly true for children, the elderly or those with serious medical conditions since the bite could be much more life threatening to these groups.

Contrary to common belief, bites from male red-back spiders are also occasionally dangerous, as reported by the Queensland Museum. About 250 people are bitten each year across Australia. Since the female red-back is slow moving and rarely leaves its web, most bites occur as a result of a person placing a hand or other body part too close to the web, such as reaching into dark holes or wall cavities.

Most Australians dislike the red-back spider, thanks in part to the frequency with which it is encountered in the environs of human habitations (it managed to secure a footing in Australian folklore in 1972 when it was immortalised in the song "Redback on the Toilet Seat" by Slim Newton). In parts of the country (such as Queensland), they can be frequently found under the lips of planters or under the arms of lawn chairs, frequently identified by a unorganized but very tough web. Redbacks, along with Australasian funnel-web spiders (a category of spider which includes the notorious Atrax robustus, or Sydney funnel-web spider), are the most dangerous types of spiders in Australia.

Read more at Wikipedia.org