How did a red back spider wind up here?

Question

I live in Kentucky...I thought red back spiders were only in australia?

and...since it was in my house when we killed it....should I be concerned that there are more?

Answer 1

did you import anything from Australia, if so you might have an odd egg sack from it,, that would be the only way you could possibly have a red back--providing that it what it is---you could have more but don't smash the next take to your local collage or museum

Answer 2

Well, how do you know it's a redback spider?  I have seen people misidentify a jumping spider as a black widow, and just because it has a red mark on it's back it doesn't mean it is the redback spider, /Latrodectus hasselti/.

You are correct though, redback spiders are an Australian species.  They are a close relatives of the widows of North America (same genus, Latrodectus).  Also, immature black widows can have patterns of red on the back of the abdomen.

This is a good example;

http://bugguide.net/node/view/190486/bgi...

Here is a gallery of widow spiders;

http://bugguide.net/node/view/1999/bgima...

*Added - After seeing your other question, I think your confusing the redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) with the redback *jumping* spider (Phidippus johnsoni).  The Redback jumping spider is a North American species,  the Redback spider is an Australian species.  These two spiders are not related, and the jumper isn't dangerous.

Info on the Redback jumping spider.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/15152

Answer 3

Actually...

Although the red back is thought of being an Australian species some people think it came from somewhere in Asia only in the last few hundred years.

Anyway don't stress, in Australia no one has died of a redback bite for years.....

Answer 4

yes, be very concerned. but remember you are bigger than they are.