Toxicity
Redback bites occur frequently, particularly over the summer months. More than 250 cases receive antivenom each year, with several milder envenomations probably going unreported. Only the female bite is dangerous. They can cause serious illness and have caused deaths. However, since Redback Spiders rarely leave their webs, humans are not likely to be bitten unless a body part such as a hand is put directly into the web, and because of their small jaws many bites are ineffective. The venom acts directly on the nerves, resulting in release and subsequent depletion of neurotransmitters.
Common early symptoms are pain (which can become severe), sweating (always including local sweating at bite site), muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting. Antivenom is available. No deaths have occurred since its introduction.
First Aid
Apply an ice pack to the bitten area to relieve pain. Do not apply a pressure bandage (venom movement is slow and pressure worsens pain). Collect the spider for positive identification. Seek medical attention. St John Ambulance Emergency First Aid pages

Collect the spider for positive identification.

Thanks deluxe:


I would have thought they were easy enough to identify

Move to NZ: White tailed spiders can give you a septic bite:

Mainly to identify male to female since the female is the dangerous one ( Rolling Eyes ) but also for the amount of people who'll take in a daddy long legs thinking it's a very thin or underdeveloped red back

So the male and female have redbacks ? I thought it was just the female

I was surprised to be told the daddy long legs has the most potent venom of all? but it just doesn't have the fangs to deliver it, to humans anyway. Gives me a whole new respect for those little guys.

Males are smaller, lighter in colour with a much lighter (usually orange) stripe

You don't watch mythbusters?
Worth watching that episode just to see Adam get bitten by one