REDBACK SPIDERS IN THE UK

3yrs ago I spotted a spider sneaking out from under the shed. I didn’t know it then, but it looked a lot like an Australian redback, red stripe and all!

I tried to snap a photo, but it was weaving through the grass, turning every time I had the shot lined up, as if it knew it was dodging my camera. I got a few partial pics, but the “money shot” wasn’t happening.

Now, I was in flip-flops, not exactly feeling like a hero. And this spider didn’t look like anything that should belong in the UK. That big red “keep away” stripe practically screamed, “Look, I'm serious!” So, between the creepy vibe, its potential “lightsaber” of a stripe, and my general aversion to being spider chow, I decided to keep my distance, relying heavily on my phone’s zoom feature. Even with the zoom, the photo was just a blurry mess. To be fair, my phone camera tops out around x3000,000,000, so maybe that was the issue!

Thinking back, I probably should’ve stood a bit further away—like, say, from another galaxy. Or better, it could’ve been a galaxy or two away from me!

Afterward, I braved the internet to ID the thing. Not exactly a dream activity for a spider-hater, scrolling through page after page of eight-legged horrors. Eventually, I expanded my search worldwide and even tried ID programs. No luck, until I found the answer by pure accident while watching some random show. A quick Google confirmed it.

Thankfully, the shed it crawled out from doesn’t get much use, and I haven’t been near it since. The spider meandered off, covering about two meters of grass, and hid under a small bridge over our pond. It probably wanted shade, especially since I’d just moved some chairs by the shed, and who knows if it was hiding in those.

I figure it's either long dead or has spawned a horde by now—I know which I’d prefer! If I see another one, I'll try a telescopic lens… and if that doesn’t work, I'll try a sturdy shoe!

If any of you have access to Facebook and you come across a red-back spider, there is a Facebook page "British spider identification group" all accidental imports r usually offered a home, I believe u need a licence to keep a red-back because it's bite is medically significant. But lots of ppl on that page have licences and r equipped to keep these spiders. They could have a significant impact on our native spiders if these r kept in the wild.

SCARed!!!!!!!!''arghhh

I was walking my dogs on the

Fields near a school and a playground. I was walking up a path when I thought I saw a ladybird. When I got near I some saw it was no ladybird. It was obviously a female red back spider. I couldn't believe it seeing it in Yorkshire. Not sure if it will survive the winter but now I am worried about children and animals been bitten. Is there anyone I can report this too. My families have picnics on these Fields.

I saw one on the stairs of my house and thought oh that’s an unusual spider and left it. I googled spiders in U.K. with a red back this evening, and now petrified!!!!!

I found one of these climbing up the chair I was sitting on once and no-one believed me that it was a redback.

I have a huge one of these that lives under a wet slab in my well. It’s absolutely wicked looking and always there. I’m in West wales where you couldn’t have a less Australian climate. I have only ever seen the one. Are you all killing your ones or leaving them?

theres a femaile redback spider in my bedroom and i caught it and put it in a tank in my bedroom a clear tank its already layed up like 12 egg sacs and the male is in there too

My friend thinks she has seen one of these recently in her garden, and thinks they are living in her rotary washing line pole, maybe breeding, what should she do? She has 2 small children and is very worried, she lives in the country just outside bedford, she has also seen a bright green spider with bright red head and legs inside her house, they have been seen more than once, any idea what type of spider this could be?

Good question Barry...We will have to get back to you on that..