Community identification
Redback Spider
Latrodectus hasselti
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Theridiidae
- Size
- Females around 1 cm (body length), males much smaller at 3-4 mm
Natural Habitat
Urban environments, sheltered dry places like sheds, under rocks, and in debris across Australia
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds primarily on insects, small lizards, and other spiders caught in its web
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal, builds tangled messy webs with sticky trip lines, females rarely leave their webs and can exhibit sexual cannibalism
Risks & Benefits
Venomous with a potentially dangerous bite (latrodectism) to humans requiring medical attention/antivenom, but highly beneficial as natural pest control for insect populations