Red Back vs Black Widow Spiders

Bec Dentec • Aug 31, 2023

People sometimes ask us, which is more dangerous, black widows or redback spiders? The answer is simple: they're as bad as each other. No one knows why such creatures exist when all we see of them is this nasty habit of assaulting humans. And it doesn't really matter which of the terrible twins you've got. Basically, you don't want to get on the wrong side of a redback spider or a black widow. It's going to end in tears, so the best thing is to get rid of them.

Here are some facts, just in case anyone needs any more convincing.

Both the black widow and redback spider live in hot, dry places and like to get some shelter. The redback - the one you're more likely to encounter in this fine but sometimes wild land of ours - hides under rocks, in piles of wood and in whatever nooks and crannies it can find. That means they keep out of the way much of the time, so it may not be obvious that they are there, on your territory.

Their method of finding prey is to spin a web and wait for an unsuspecting insect to fly into it and get stuck. Then it's din-dins for the spider, which paralyses its victims with its handy, inbuilt store of venom. You may suspect you have a spider nest in your home and business - if this is the case you can get in touch with someone providing pest control services to identify & treath these for you.

What is the Difference Between a Black Widow vs a Redback Spider?

They both belong to the genus Latrodectus, and in fact, the redback is the Australian branch of the North America-based black widow family. They look similar to those untrained in redback pest control , with markings that could be considered quite attractive if it weren't for the nature of the beast. A black widow has a red dorsal stripe (i.e. on its back), which is a way of distinguishing them. However, if someone is bitten by either of them, black widow vs redback doesn't really come into it. The thing to do is get medical help immediately - go to the emergency room at a hospital if that's the best option. Don't panic but get some qualified medical help asap.

If you can, kill the spider, wrap it securely in something like a tissue and take it with you, so those treating the wound can identify it.

Black Widow Spider vs Redback Spider: The Venom

The two also have similar venoms, which cause unpleasant effects but are not necessarily lethal. The elderly and young children are especially vulnerable.

Symptoms include nausea, cramps, dizziness, headaches, sweating and fainting. First aid actions begin with washing the area with soap and water and putting on an antibiotic ointment if you have one. Applying a cool compress for 15 minutes every hour or so will help reduce pain and swelling.

How Can I Avoid the Risk of Black Widow Spiders and Redback Spiders?

That's a sensible question. We've looked at recognising them and dealing with the effects, but nobody wants to have to do that. The answer is to get your property treated to minimize the likelihood of one of these little monsters attacking you, your family or a visitor. We at Dentec know all about black widows and redbacks and we know how to get rid of them for you. So let us come out there and give you some peace of mind.

What Do I Do If I Have a Spider Problem?

Well, the obvious answer but the correct one is to get in touch with a professional spider exterminator who can deal with the issue for you - it goes without saying it is not a good idea for untrained individuals to attempt to deal with either of these dangerous spiders alone!

If you enjoyed this blog, consider checking out a similar post we wrote about White-tailed Spiders vs. Redback Spiders. Also, feel free to check out these two videos from National Geographic if you would like to learn more about either of these species.