Is this a redback spider?
#1
Victorian Evangelist
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Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
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Is this a redback spider?
Found two of these in our house today - they look like redbacks but all the photos I've found of redbacks on the internet, they don't have stripey legs like this one does.
Can anyone advise?
Thanks
Buzzy
Can anyone advise?
Thanks
Buzzy
#2
Re: Is this a redback spider?
The red "splodge" (that's a technical term ) would say to me that it's a red back - maybe the pale bits on the legs are because it's juvenile, or a female or something?
(Squash it anyway to be on the safe side! )
(Squash it anyway to be on the safe side! )
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Windsor, Melbourne
Posts: 14
Re: Is this a redback spider?
It's a redback alright. Kill it! Unless of course you just want to take it outside somewhere and throw it in a bush. Personally I don't like to handle them
#5
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Location: Windsor, Melbourne
Posts: 14
Re: Is this a redback spider?
BTW, it's definitely female. The males are tiny little things and not even black.
#7
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Windsor, Melbourne
Posts: 14
Re: Is this a redback spider?
Males are usually very small - about a third of the size of females. They are also usually white and brown. Apparently their little jaws aren't man enough to bite us properly but I'm not going to test that theory out! We've had a few around the garden but they've never been a problem. Well........ they're all dead now.
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 38
Re: Is this a redback spider?
and just when i'd forgotten about all those bloody spiders....
#9
Re: Is this a redback spider?
I do hope you used a zoom on the camera and you didn't get that close to it. They do look much better after they have been squashed. Sorry all insect lovers.
#10
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Location: Windsor, Melbourne
Posts: 14
Re: Is this a redback spider?
The last one I saw had the red stripes on the legs as well.....
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 43
Re: Is this a redback spider?
As if I am not scared enough about my up coming move!! Good luck - and my opinion is the only good redback is a squashed redback.
#12
Victorian Evangelist
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Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
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Re: Is this a redback spider?
Thanks for your help guys! I have dispatched both spiders. I suppose we should get a firm round to do a spray perhaps? Can anyone recommend one in Bayside Melbourne?
Thanks
Buzzy
Thanks
Buzzy
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Location: Mornington
Posts: 1,650
Re: Is this a redback spider?
Hi Simon
Get one of those insect bombs, set it off shut the door and walk out, hey presto everthing is dead when you come back an hour or so later
I suppose it is the insect version of being nuked
John
#14
Re: Is this a redback spider?
I was going to go around the fence as well, which is a whole other spider apartment block (at the top, the bottom is a mosquito incubator) but my can of Mortein Outdoor ran out after I'd gone around the house. Moral of that story, is next time buy three cans to do the job properly!
God bless Mortein!
#15
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Location: Sydney
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Re: Is this a redback spider?
I paid $240 to have my house sprayed, inside and out, last August after I found a HUGE spider in my daugher's bedroom (which I'm sure wasn't dangerous, just scary!). We haven't seen as much as a house spider inside since so from my pov it was money very well spent. They reckon it lasts 9 months so I'll have it done again in April just to be on the safe side