The last recorded death from a Red-back Spider bite was in 1956. Body length is from 1.5 - 2 cm. They are dark grey to black and have cigar-shaped abdomen with a white spot on the tip. Outdoors they are found under bark, stones and rubbish. Indoors they can be found on walls, ceilings, in clothes and bedding.
Some people have an allergic reaction - seek medical advice.
This is a large group of spiders with dozens of species. They are very common in suburban gardens. An attractive brown spider with horizontal yellow and crimson-brown stripes. The female constructs a thick silk cross in the centre of its orb-web. She sits in the centre of the web with her legs placed along the arms of the cross.