![]() ![]() Male Redback Spiders do not produce a web, but may be found on the fringe of a female's web, especially during the summer mating season. Females may live for two to three years, whereas males only live for about six or seven months. The smaller male matures on average in about 90 days. The spiderlings disperse by ballooning to another suitable nest site on long silk threads that are caught by air currents.įemales mature on average in about four months. Spiderlings are cannibalistic and will eat unhatched eggs and other spiderlings. The young spiderlings hatch in two to four weeks. Sometimes small ichneumonid wasps parasitise them, puncturing each sac with tiny holes. Each egg sac contains approximately 250 eggs and only one to three weeks need to pass before more eggs can be laid. She spends much time producing up to ten round egg sacs (1cm diameter), which are white, weathering to brown over time. Once the female has mated, she can store sperm and use it over a period of up to two years to lay several batches of eggs. Prey-stealing is also common, with large females taking stored food items from others' webs. ![]() Insects are the usual prey of Redback Spiders, but they are capable of capturing quite large animals, such as male trapdoor spiders, king crickets and small lizards, if they become entangled in the web. The body is light brown with white markings on the upper side of the abdomen, and a pale hour-glass marking on the underside. The males' red markings are often less distinct. Females have a body about the size of a large pea and slender legs. Juveniles have additional white markings on the abdomen. Other species of Latrodectus occur in Africa, New Zealand (the Katipo), the Pacific Islands, Europe and North and South America.įemale Redback Spiders are black (occasionally brownish) with an obvious orange to red longitudinal stripe on the upper abdomen, with the red stripe sometimes being broken, and an "hourglass" shaped red/orange spot on the underside of the abdomen. The notorious Black Widow Spider ( Latrodectus sp) of the United States is a close relative of the Redback Spider, and only differs in appearance by the absence of a red dorsal stripe. Redback spiders ( Latrodectus hasselti) belong to the Family Theridiidae, which is found worldwide. Redback spiders are found throughout Australia and are common in disturbed and urban areas. ![]()
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