Black Widow Spider with a stripey/spotted body?!?

Question

I found a spider out back. It is black, with a red hourglass on its belly, so I assumed its a black widow, as we have been getting them lately. But this one has a thin red stripe down its back, kinda 'outlined' by even thinner white stripes then like little white markings coming into the center line. It looks like a little racing helmet as its body....anyone know what this might be? A version of a black widow? Thanks

Answer 1

You must live in Australia.  The only Black Widow Spider that fits your description, is one indigenous to Australia.  It is of the same genus, Latrodectans, but is a different species.

In America all Black Widow Spiders are solid black with a red hourglass on the ventral surface of the abdomen.  Of course, this is only true of the female, not the male.  But I doubt you've found a male, because they are extremely small and are not black.  Actually they are quit beautiful.  Their abdomen is pearl-white with metalic gold stripes.  But, they also have the typical hourglass.  

They are fascinating animals.

Answer 2

It sounds like a young, female Black Widow. I like your "little racing helmet" description. lol That's what it looks like, for sure.

Here's a pic.:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/7483539...

Added:- Just to reply to Bwana's answer, we don't get any spiders in Australia called Black Widows. We get a relative called the Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti).

The picture I posted is not of a Redback though, but of a Black Widow. Here is some more information and a photo of another young Black Widow with the same pattern, clearly stating that it's from the United States.

http://www.nps.gov/amis/naturescience/ar...

Cheers.