The Redback spider certainly does have very potent venom; so much so that the tiny amount it delivers is capable of killing a human if not treated. These days however, the real danger of ‘death-by-Redback’ is extremely low. We have had antivenom for Redbacks since 1956, and since then no human fatalities have been recorded. Bites are still very common, and the effects are very painful, but the venom acts on humans quite slowly.  There’s is always plenty of warning and time to seek treatment. Only the female is capable of delivering an effective bite on humans. The males are very small (3-4mm long) and light brown with white markings – very different than the classic appearance of the larger female.

The web of Redback spiders at first glance appears to be a tangled mess with no real system or method. In reality it is a finely engineered trap, constructed purposefully to capture small crawling animals. The web consists of two distinct components and always connects with the ground (or some other base). It may be created in a very small space, or span distances of up to 50 cm. The upper component of the web provides structural support for the trap and usually includes a thickened area of silk where the spider lives. This is also where the spider will create and suspend its yellow-white egg sacs. The lower component of the web consists of a number of vertical trip-lines. Each line connects with the ground under great tension, and is adorned with droplets of liquid silk which acts as an instant glue for any small creature that touches it. Once the spider has built its trap, it makes its way to the upper area of the web and simply waits for what might be weeks or even months until food arrives. Intermittently the spider will check the web’s integrity and touch up the trip lines with fresh droplets of the silken glue.