Latrodectus hasselti

Latrodectus • Theridiidae • Araneae (medical) • Arachnida (parasites/med.) • veterinary/medical pests • pests-diseases-weeds

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Latrodectus hasselti with eggsac (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Doug Beckers
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Latrodectus hasselti with eggsac and prey (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Doug Beckers
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Latrodectus hasselti Thorell - (red-back widow spider)

This spider is native in south-eastern Asia and Australia. It has been accidentally introduced into New Zealand (1970s) and Japan (first record in 1995). There are also reports from Belgium and Iran. When biting humans it causes intense pain and other symptoms.

The spider might seek shelter in urban structures like drainages, concrete walls or fences where it constructs its web to catch insects. The body of the female is up to 10 mm large, males are much smaller. The spider is black with with a spherical body and orange-red marks.

For details see the respective page in Wikipedia.

Synonyms:
Latrodectus hasseltii