Redback Spiders: One of Australia's Deadly Creatures

Redback spiders are not creatures on most people's list of favorite animals but certainly one of a large number of fascinating creatures native to Australia. The redback spider is a close relative of the black widow spider found here in the United States. Having met and fought many redbacks in my lifetime, I can tell you what pretty creatures they are, as far as venomous arachnids are concerned.

Redbacks are not so active during the colder months of the year, so I was not surprised when I discovered a news article concerning a redback invasion in Australia's northern State of Queensland. Queensland's weather is warmer than the southern states, and the higher levels of humidity make it a perfect environment for redback infestation. A Hospital in the township of Baralaba, just east of the coastal city of Gladstone has been closed down for fumigation overnight, due to the discovery of excessive numbers of redbacks. Apparently the spiders, which were known to be in small numbers inside the hospital's ceiling, have begun migrating further indoors to breed.

The redback spider is quite a freeloader. Not only do they steal food from one another, but wherever you live, you'll find a redback (or the whole family) has moved in with you, somewhere. They are just as common in cities and urban areas, as they are in more rural settings. They hang out behind the bark of trees, in the woodpile, anywhere damp such as your laundry cabinets, and even in the warm, damp soil of many flower and vegetable gardens. It is not uncommon to find a redback in the cupboard below the kitchen sink. Be careful looking for that pan!

While gardening is such a pleasant pastime, one needs to beware of this frightening resident when connecting the garden hose. They tend to make a temporary home in the tap head and any attempt to remove them with a twig will infuriate them. Don't ever take a drink directly from the garden hose, there may be a deadly surprise just waiting to take advantage.

The redback spider spins a fascinating, very fine web which is quite like silk thread in appearance. It is so white it has an almost blue shimmer and is quite dense which hides the occupant from view. The female redback is the prettier spider, with a spectacular red marking similar to an hourglass shape on her abdomen. She is only a small lady, usually no more than ¼ of an inch in length and with very fine legs. The male is somewhat less attractive, generally a brownish-gray with a speckled appearance. He's a tiny gentleman too, just a few millimeters in length.

The mating ritual of the redback spider and all of those spiders which belong to the family, Latrodectus hasselti is completely bizarre. Not only does insignificant male stand on his head for the entire performance, but his lady continually injects him with digestive fluids during the show. Needless to say one of the spiders benefits by having a great time...and lunch, while the other, having fulfilled it's purpose promptly departs this earth.

Although the bite of the redback spider is venomous, being so small means the creature sometimes inflicts a bite which can go relatively unnoticed. A few hundred people are bitten each year, but an effective anti venom is readily available. Nobody has died from a redback Spider bite in many years. Once bitten, the pain is excruciating. I am thankful that I have not been bitten, but I have administered first aid to a bite victim which is as simple as immobilizing the patient and applying an ice pack to the bite area until medical assistance arrives.

Applying pressure with a bandage to the bite area as one would with a snake bite isn't necessary as the venom is quite slow to circulate through the body. Not only that, but even the slightest unnecessary touch to the affected area produces agonizing pain for the patient. If bitten, you will become violently nauseated, dizzy, break out in a drenching sweat and lose some muscular function. A full recovery is swift though, and further caution is always recommended. Redbacks do not roam far from their home, so unless contact is made with the redback's web while the occupant is at home, a bite is easily avoided.

Source:

ABC News, Australia

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/23/2224698.htm

Australian Museum Online

http://www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/redback.htm