Redbacks are small black spiders with a red or orange stripe on the back, and they are common in backyards across Brisbane. They build untidy, sticky webs in dry, sheltered spots close to the ground, and they are most often found under outdoor chairs and tables, inside letterboxes, around pot plant rims, in gaps in brick walls, under children's play equipment and among stored items in sheds and garages.
A redback treatment focuses on those outdoor hiding places. The crew we book walks the yard looking for webs and egg sacs, which look like small, round, papery balls, and removes them where they can. They then treat the areas where redbacks shelter, paying extra attention to spots where children play or where people reach in without looking, such as letterboxes, electricity boxes and garden tool racks.
- Yard walk to find webs and egg sacs
- Outdoor furniture, play equipment and letterboxes treated
- Sheds, garages and electricity boxes checked
- Brick walls, retaining walls and pot plants treated
- Advice on clearing clutter and wearing gloves
Redbacks tend to build up in cluttered, undisturbed areas, so tidying the shed, stacking pots upside down and not leaving toys and chairs in one spot for months all help keep numbers down. Homes in older suburbs like Moorooka, Annerley and Sherwood, with sheds, brick fences and big backyards, often have more places for them to settle than units with small courtyards.
If someone is bitten, call 000 if it is serious, or speak to a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. To book redback spider treatment in Brisbane, call 07 3543 7764.
