Deadly Cousin: The Redback Spider | National Geographic

perched in its tangled web the Redback

perched in its tangled web the Redback spider lies in wait she is a relative of

spider lies in wait she is a relative of

spider lies in wait she is a relative of the black widow only the red dorsal

the black widow only the red dorsal

the black widow only the red dorsal stripe distinguishes them red backs are

stripe distinguishes them red backs are

stripe distinguishes them red backs are found everywhere throughout the

found everywhere throughout the

found everywhere throughout the Australian continent especially

Australian continent especially

Australian continent especially alongside human habitation only females

alongside human habitation only females

alongside human habitation only females build webs they’re smaller less

build webs they’re smaller less

build webs they’re smaller less brilliantly colored male counterparts

brilliantly colored male counterparts

brilliantly colored male counterparts often lurk to the side

often lurk to the side

often lurk to the side females can live up to three years males

females can live up to three years males

females can live up to three years males only for about six months when it comes

only for about six months when it comes

only for about six months when it comes to mating males must approach cautiously

to mating males must approach cautiously

to mating males must approach cautiously lest the object of their affections

lest the object of their affections

lest the object of their affections mistake them for a snack humans too must

mistake them for a snack humans too must

mistake them for a snack humans too must be careful the spider won’t seek out

be careful the spider won’t seek out

be careful the spider won’t seek out people to sting but should a hand stray

people to sting but should a hand stray

people to sting but should a hand stray into her web by accident

into her web by accident

into her web by accident a trip to the emergency room may be in

a trip to the emergency room may be in

a trip to the emergency room may be in order as the venom acts directly on the

order as the venom acts directly on the

order as the venom acts directly on the nerves the read-back possesses a potent

nerves the read-back possesses a potent

nerves the read-back possesses a potent neuro toxic venom only the female bite

neuro toxic venom only the female bite

neuro toxic venom only the female bite is dangerous and their bites have caused

is dangerous and their bites have caused

is dangerous and their bites have caused some human deaths it does not hunt its

some human deaths it does not hunt its

some human deaths it does not hunt its prey but instead waits for a tasty

prey but instead waits for a tasty

prey but instead waits for a tasty morsel to wander by and become entangled

morsel to wander by and become entangled

morsel to wander by and become entangled in its web once the prey usually a

in its web once the prey usually a

in its web once the prey usually a walking insect becomes enmeshed in the

walking insect becomes enmeshed in the

walking insect becomes enmeshed in the Redbacks web it’s wrapped in silk when

Redbacks web it’s wrapped in silk when

Redbacks web it’s wrapped in silk when it’s time to eat the spider bites down

it’s time to eat the spider bites down

it’s time to eat the spider bites down on its intended victim injecting its

on its intended victim injecting its

on its intended victim injecting its neurotoxic venom the venom paralyzes the

neurotoxic venom the venom paralyzes the

neurotoxic venom the venom paralyzes the insect and digestive enzymes begin to

insect and digestive enzymes begin to

insect and digestive enzymes begin to dissolve the preys insides