Redback Spider: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Creepy Crawlies · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. A redback often first sprays its prey with a superglue-like silk that sticks the victim's legs to its own body.
2. A redback's web has vertical strands that act as trip wires, alerting the spider to prey or threats.
3. After mating, a female can keep sperm for up to two years and use it for several clutches, each averaging 250 eggs.
4. Female redbacks are about 10 mm long, but males are much smaller, only 3 to 4 mm.
5. A redback bite can cause pain lasting over 24 hours, but an antivenom has been available since 1956.

The quiz

1. What does a redback squirt at its prey to hold it still?

• Plain water
• Something like superglue (correct)
• A cloud of dust
• A mist of acid

It often sprays a superglue-like silk that sticks the prey's legs to its body.

2. What do the vertical strands of a redback's web act as?

• Sun shades
• Nursery nets
• Trip wires (correct)
• Food stores

The vertical strands act as trip wires that alert the spider.

3. How many eggs does a redback clutch average?

• 250 (correct)
• 25
• 100
• 1,000

Each clutch averages 250 eggs.

4. How long is a male redback?

• 10 mm
• 20 mm
• 30 mm
• 3 to 4 mm (correct)

Males are only 3 to 4 mm long.

5. Since when has an antivenom been available for redback bites?

• 1926
• 1976
• 1956 (correct)
• 1996

An antivenom has been available since 1956.

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