The Brown Button spider, Latrodectus geometricus , is very variable in colour ranging from cream, beige, brown, olive green to black but always with dorsal geometric markings that radiate down the sides of the abdomen. Sometimes the markings on Latrodectus geometricus are not that apparent on those that are darkly coloured or black and the latter could be confused with Latrodectus indistinctus . A further difference is the egg sac. Latrodectus geometricus has a spiked egg sac while that of Latrodectus indistinctus is smooth. Button spiders are very timid, usually retreating when disturbed or dropping to the ground and playing dead.
Bites result from handling or when they are trapped and squeezed.
Symptoms are less severe with the Brown button spider. In fact, there have been no deaths from button spiders in the last 4 to 5 decades. All Latrodectus bites should be treated and monitored. These spiders are harmless to man and occur under stones and bark or hollows in walls and are sometimes found in the home. They construct 3-dimensional webs with numerous strands radiating from the web to the ground.