Well-known in Australia and beyond, and lending its name to various items of merchandise, the red-backed spider is widespread across the country, particularly in drier regions.
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Most of its activity is nocturnal.
About the only natural spots the red-backed spider is found are under rocks, and in hollow logs.
However, the redback is not really a bush spider.
Most local redback sightings are made in dry, dark, non-natural situations such as around yards, heaps of rubbish, old tires, inside sheds, under outside furniture and in plant pots and other empty containers.
The overhanging rim around the top of the common “wheelie bin” seems an ideal spot, but I have not heard of any redbacks being found there.
Today’s photo was taken under a roofing tile lying on the ground in grassland.
It shows a female.
Her abdomen is about the size of a pea (to about 10 millimetres), but the male is much smaller and his abdomen is elongated (3 – 4 millimetres) rather than spherical.
He is brown rather than black, and his abdominal mark is more of an orange colour.
It is the larger female that is dangerous, and it is she that is seen more often.
As well as being smaller, the male has a shorter lifespan, often being either eaten by the female while mating or dying soon afterwards.
While the female can be dangerous to humans, her bite is rarely deadly nowadays, with an anti-venom being readily available.
She is not aggressive and usually bites only when provoked or accidentally touched.
The fangs of the male are small - too small to be a serious worry to humans.
SIGNS OF SPRING
Magpies are nesting, swans are courting, cuckoos have arrived and hoveas and sundews are flowering.
These are all welcome signs that spring is fast approaching.
Just a few days with temperatures of 15 or 16 degrees will really make a difference to springtime activity in the outside world.
This usually happens fairly reliably about two months after the winter solstice.
BALLARAT ROBINS
Robins can be found on the edge of Ballarat, but they seldom venture far into suburbia.
It is surprising, therefore, to learn of sightings of both scarlet and flame robins at Lake Wendouree a week ago.
Both of these are uncommon or rare visitors to the lake.
They are not seen there every year.
They are probably moving through on the way to their springtime territories.
