Redback spider
Glossy black body, distinctive red or orange stripe along the top of the abdomen. Males are tiny (3-4 mm) and rarely seen.
Behaviour
Builds an untidy tangled web in dark sheltered spots - under outdoor furniture, in roller-door tracks, in brick retaining walls, in sheds. Strictly nocturnal hunting.
How they get into Melbourne homes
Outside the home, in any sheltered dry spot. Occasionally inside in basements and garages.
DIY options
Knock down webs and apply household residual to suspect areas. Wear gloves when checking under outdoor furniture.
When to call a professional
Confirmed redbacks where children play, in roller-door tracks, in retaining walls - that's a treatment, not a DIY.
Common questions about redback spider
- Extremely. We find them in roughly 4 in 10 properties we treat. Brick retaining walls, outdoor furniture, and shed corners are textbook habitat.
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