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What Should I Do About Redback Spiders?

Written by PestMan Editorial TeamTechnical review pendingPublished Updated

Quick answer

Treat redbacks with caution but not panic. Wear gloves when handling outdoor items, check under furniture, BBQs, play equipment and pot rims, and remove redbacks and their webs carefully with a long-handled tool. If bitten, apply a cold pack and seek medical advice. For advice, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, or 000 in an emergency.

Why this happens

Redbacks build untidy webs in dry, sheltered, undisturbed places close to the ground. Bites usually happen when someone reaches under an object without looking.

Only the female’s bite is considered medically significant. Symptoms can include severe local pain, sweating and nausea. Antivenom is available.

What you may be seeing

  • Female: black with an orange-red stripe on the abdomen, about 10 mm body.
  • Tangled, messy webs under outdoor furniture, in sheds and around letterboxes.
  • Round, cream egg sacs in the web.

What you can do

  • Wear gloves when gardening and when moving stored items.
  • Inspect and clean children’s play equipment, sandpits and outdoor toys.
  • Remove webs and egg sacs with a long-handled broom.
  • Store items off the ground and reduce clutter in sheds.

What not to do

  • Do not apply a pressure bandage for redback bites (this is recommended for funnel-web and snake bites, not redbacks).
Safety first

Redback bite first aid: apply a cold pack, seek medical advice, and call 000 if symptoms are severe or the person is a child. Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26.

When professional help may be needed

Where redbacks are common around children’s play areas, pools or entertaining areas, a professional treatment of sheltered harbourages can reduce numbers between inspections.

Spiders

Eight-legged predators that feed on insects. Most household spiders are harmless and useful, but a few Australian species, such as redbacks and funnel-webs, need to be treated with care.

Species mentioned

Redback Spider

Latrodectus hasselti

A small, medically significant Australian spider found in dry, sheltered spots around homes. The female’s bite can cause severe pain and illness, and medical advice should be sought.

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Sources & further reading

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