The Red-back Spider is one of the best known spiders in Australia. It has made its way into songs, stories and verse and has become an important part of the Australian culture.

The female is black and pea-shaped with long slender legs - she usually has a large red stripe on the back of her abdomen. There is also a red hourglass pattern underneath the abdomen. The male is tiny and very rarely seen.

During the summer the female constructs 4-5 cream-coloured egg sacs, collectively containing up to 200 eggs. The spiderlings hatch after two weeks and disperse by ballooning. Females mature after 5 to 6 months and may live up to three years, but males only live about six months. Prey includes any insects, spiders and even vertebrates such as lizards of suitable size. The web is generally built in corners and comprises a retreat funnel at the top, surrounded by messy strands of silk, leading to a number of thick sticky threads attached to the ground.

Red-back Spiders remain in the back of the retreat during the day and emerge towards the front at night.

They are found in dry forest, woodland, agricultural and suburban areas.

The Red-back Spider is one of Australia's most venomous spiders, causing at least thirteen deaths before an antivenom was developed. The bite causes sweating, muscle weakness and in severe cases vomiting, convulsions and coma.

They can be found within all states and territories of Australia.

The male body length averages between 2 and 3 millimeters whilst the female's body measures on average around 10 to 15 millimeters!