Latrodectus hasselti

Redback Spider at Garran, ACT

Latrodectus hasselti at Garran, ACT - 3 Dec 2017
Latrodectus hasselti at Garran, ACT - 3 Dec 2017
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Identification history

Latrodectus hasselti 4 Dec 2017 KimPullen
Latrodectus hasselti 4 Dec 2017 michaelb
Redback spider (Latrodectus hasseltii 3 Dec 2017 ruthkerruish

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User's notes

Found inside shrub guard at the base of the stem of a planted 2-year old Kunzea ericoides. Not sure how I escaped being bitten (hence not so good pictures). I presume it would have come with the tube stock, wood chips or? This planting is in the middle of a large area of regularly mown grass with no rocks etc.

3 comments

KimPullen wrote:
   4 Dec 2017
Lots of spiders disperse at a very early age by 'ballooning', whereby they go to high point and release a thread of silk which catches in the breeze and carries them into the air. This way they can turn up anywhere - although the majority will likely perish.
ruthkerruish wrote:
   4 Dec 2017
Thank you.
KimPullen wrote:
   5 Dec 2017
Hi Ruth - wikipedia has an article about ballooning at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballooning_(spider) . But I don't know whether redbacks use this method. Kim.

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only

Cymbonotus sp. (preissianus or lawsonianus) (Bears Ears) at Garran, ACT - 4 Sep 2022 by Rose11a
zz Polypore (shelf/hoof-like) at Hughes, ACT - 31 Jul 2022 by ruthkerruish
Rytidosperma pilosum (Smooth-flowered Wallaby Grass) at Garran, ACT - 22 May 2022 by Tapirlord
Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Garran, ACT - 16 Dec 2021 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Garran, ACT - 18 Nov 2021 by MichaelMulvaney
Sedum album (White Stonecrop) at Garran, ACT - 25 Aug 2021 by ruthkerruish
Bothriochloa macra (Red Grass, Red-leg Grass) at Garran, ACT - 3 Apr 2021 by ruthkerruish
Epilobium billardiereanum subsp. cinereum (Hairy Willow Herb) at Garran, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by Tapirlord
Salvia verbenaca var. verbenaca (Wild Sage) at Hughes, ACT - 15 Feb 2021 by Tapirlord
Geranium solanderi var. solanderi (Native Geranium) at Garran, ACT - 7 Feb 2021 by Tapirlord
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) at Hughes, ACT - 27 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Macropus giganteus (Eastern Grey Kangaroo) at Garran, ACT - 15 Jan 2021 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Garran, ACT - 14 Dec 2020 by ruthkerruish
Amanita sp. (Amanita sp.) at Garran, ACT - 18 Apr 2020 by ruthkerruish
Agrocybe sp. at Garran, ACT - 18 Apr 2020 by ruthkerruish
Panicum effusum (Hairy Panic Grass) at Garran, ACT - 16 Mar 2020 by ruthkerruish
Eolophus roseicapilla (Galah) at Garran, ACT - 6 Jan 2020 by JackyF
Leptospermum continentale (Prickly Teatree) at Garran, ACT - 24 Nov 2019 by ruthkerruish
Kunzea ericoides (Burgan) at Garran, ACT - 23 Nov 2019 by ruthkerruish
Kunzea parvifolia (Violet Kunzea) at Garran, ACT - 18 Oct 2019 by ruthkerruish
Apis mellifera (European honey bee) at Garran, ACT - 18 Oct 2019 by ruthkerruish
Kunzea parvifolia (Violet Kunzea) at Garran, ACT - 18 Oct 2019 by ruthkerruish
Grevillea lanigera (Woolly Grevillea) at Garran, ACT - 24 Apr 2019 by ruthkerruish
Crepis capillaris (Smooth Hawksbeard) at Garran, ACT - 2 Apr 2019 by ruthkerruish
Digitaria sanguinalis (Summer Grass) at Garran, ACT - 23 Jan 2019 by ruthkerruish
Cynodon dactylon (Couch Grass) at Garran, ACT - 23 Jan 2019 by ruthkerruish
Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain, Lamb's Tongues) at Garran, ACT - 23 Jan 2019 by ruthkerruish
Lactuca serriola f. serriola (Prickly Lettuce) at Garran, ACT - 23 Jan 2019 by ruthkerruish
Oriolus sagittatus (Olive-backed Oriole) at Garran, ACT - 3 Dec 2018 by RobParnell
Sonchus asper (Prickly Sowthistle) at Garran, ACT - 12 Nov 2018 by ruthkerruish
Podargus strigoides (Tawny Frogmouth) at Garran, ACT - 22 Oct 2018 by RobParnell
Dacelo novaeguineae (Laughing Kookaburra) at Garran, ACT - 13 Oct 2018 by roymcd
Cryptes baccatus (Wattle Tick Scale) at Garran, ACT - 11 Oct 2018 by ruthkerruish
Cirsium vulgare (Spear Thistle) at Garran, ACT - 7 May 2018 by ruthkerruish
Veronica persica (Creeping Speedwell) at Hughes, ACT - 7 May 2018 by ruthkerruish
Oxalis exilis (Shady Wood Sorrel) at Garran, ACT - 1 Apr 2018 by ruthkerruish
Sonchus asper (Prickly Sowthistle) at Garran, ACT - 31 Mar 2018 by ruthkerruish
Oxalis sp. (Wood Sorrel) at Garran, ACT - 29 Mar 2018 by ruthkerruish
Epilobium billardiereanum subsp. cinereum (Hairy Willow Herb) at Garran, ACT - 19 Jan 2018 by ruthkerruish
Gamochaeta americana (American Everlasting) at Garran, ACT - 25 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Crepis capillaris (Smooth Hawksbeard) at Garran, ACT - 14 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Vittadinia muelleri (Narrow-leafed New Holland Daisy) at Hughes, ACT - 14 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting) at Garran, ACT - 14 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Oxalis sp. (Wood Sorrel) at Garran, ACT - 5 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Laccaria sp. (Laccaria) at Garran, ACT - 5 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Agrocybe sp. at Garran, ACT - 4 Dec 2017 by ruthkerruish
Trifolium campestre (Hop Clover) at Garran, ACT - 24 Oct 2017 by ruthkerruish
Silene gallica var. gallica (French Catchfly) at Garran, ACT - 19 Oct 2017 by ruthkerruish
Grevillea juniperina (Grevillea) at Garran, ACT - 7 Oct 2017 by ruthkerruish
Galium aparine (Goosegrass, Cleavers) at Garran, ACT - 28 Aug 2017 by ruthkerruish
Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass) at Garran, ACT - 10 Jun 2017 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box) at Garran, ACT - 3 Jun 2017 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata (Southern Blue Gum, Eurabbie) at Garran, ACT - 1 Jun 2017 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus cinerea (Argyle Apple) at Hughes, ACT - 20 May 2017 by ruthkerruish
Eucalyptus mannifera subsp. mannifera (Brittle Gum) at Hughes, ACT - 10 May 2017 by ruthkerruish
Rumex brownii (Slender Dock) at Garran, ACT - 31 Mar 2017 by ruthkerruish

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 3 Dec 2017 03:43 PM Recorded on
  • ruthkerruish Recorded by

Additional information

  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size

Species information

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  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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