White-tailed Spiders vs. Redback Spiders (Which is Worse?)

White-tailed Spiders vs. Redback Spiders – which one of these eight-legged freaks is worse? In this section, we will answer that question by first describing what makes each of these spiders dangerous and then briefly compare them.

White-tailed or White-tip Spider

The White-tailed or White-tip Spider ( Lampona cylindrata ) can be found throughout southern and eastern Australia. It’s a small gray to reddish spider with orange-brown legs. Its name is derived from the white spot at the tip of its abdomen.

White-tailed spiders are active hunters that search and envenom prey instead of using the web to capture it. They prefer preying on other spiders.

You may be wondering are white-tailed spiders dangerous? White-tailed spiders have been reported to bite humans resulting in itchiness, local swelling, red mark, and local pain. These bites may also rarely result in a headache, malaise, and vomiting.

Necrosis and ulcers have been linked to these bites, but research from Isbister and Gray (2003) reveal other causes such as infections for such complications. A study conducted on 130 white-tailed spider bites show no signs of necrotic ulcers and confirmed infections.

The White-Tailed spider’s venom contains no bacteria and infections are not the results of the spider’s bites. The common perception that white-tailed spider bites cause skin infections is the result of sensational media reports, describing cases of severe “necrotising arachnidism” that gave the spider a bad reputation.

Redback Spiders

Redback Spiders ( Latrodectus hasselti ) are quite common in Australia. They are lurking all throughout Australia; especially in highly populated urban areas. They can be seen creeping inside verandas, storage yards, sheds, industrial sites, junk piles, hollow logs, wood, etc.

The Redback Spider looks similar to the venomous Black Widow Spider but is not related to the later. One very distinctive characteristic of the Redback is the red dorsal stripe (red back) where its name is derived.

How dangerous is the Redback Spider? Are red backs poisonous?

Redbacks are responsible for the majority of spider bites in Australia. But the experts don’t see them as dangerous creatures. It is only the female Redback Spider’s bite that is toxic.

People usually get bitten when they accidentally stick their hands into the spider’s web because these creatures rarely leave their nests. The Redback Spider’s fangs are tiny. So even if you accidentally get bitten, the bite usually won’t cause any serious damage.

The spider’s venom is a slow-acting toxin, and most people don’t get any bad reaction other than a terrible itch. Sometimes, the reaction can become severe and cause sweating on the bite area, followed by more sweating, nausea, and vomiting and muscle weakness.

In the majority of cases, a simple ice pack is all that’s required to solve the problem, and only 6% of those that have been bitten have developed severe symptoms. Antivenom is available although only less than 1% of bite victims require antivenin and no fatalities have been recorded.

Can a Redback Spider Kill You?

The simple answer is yes. Redback spiders bite and inject their venom, which is very harmful to humans and can be fatal if treatment is not administered quickly. Therefore, the obvious thing to do is keep redbacks off your property, because prevention is better than cure. Arguments about which is more dangerous, white-tailed spiders or redbacks, are irrelevant. You need to have both eradicated. Only then will you be truly safe.

Are redback spiders poisonous?

You bet they are. A redback bite is painful and causes vomiting and sweating. Urgent medical attention can help the situation, but of course, there is no guarantee you will have a doctor or other qualified professional to call on, nor that they would have the necessary anti-venom at hand. Antibiotics could be needed for secondary infections and there could even be a need for minor surgery to drain pus-filled abscesses. First aid measures such as applying a cold compress and administering pain relief can help in a small way but do not underestimate the seriousness of the situation.

Conclusion

White-tailed Spiders or Redback Spiders: which is worse?

Well, the short answer – Redback spiders.

First of all, redback spiders can be found almost anywhere in Australia, making them more likely get in contact with humans. You will only need to worry about White-tailed spiders if you’re in eastern and southern Australia. Thus Redbacks are responsible for the majority of spider bites in Australia.

The second reason is obvious. The Redback’s venom is more toxic than the White-tailed. Antivenoms for Redbacks have been manufactured since the 1950s. Antivenoms are not needed for White-tailed spider bites.

With that said, the Redback spider is worse than the White-tailed Spider. But don’t get this conclusion twisted. White-backs can still hurt you.

We hope you enjoyed this post. Which spider do you think is worse – Redback or White-tailed? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. We would love to hear from you.