Red and Black Spider

Ambicodamus crinitus

Family: Nicodamidae  ID: Koch, 1872

Habitat and Biology
In summer, males leave their web, during daylight hours, and wander in search of females. This wandering habit often brings them indoors. Due to the red and black colour, the spider is often confused with the red-back spider and, as red is a common warning colour, the spider is sometimes thought to be highly venomous. The egg case has a woolly appearance and is suspended in the web.

Colour
Male: Similar to female.
Female: Body and legs commonly bright red, abdomen black, but varying orange to dark red, sometimes with a bluish tinge.

Form
Typically a small spider with slender legs, most easily recognised by colour pattern as described above.

Body Length
Male: 10mm
Female: 12mm

Web type
A few irregular strands built under bark, stones or logs.

Bite
Despite the red colour of this spider its venom is not dangerous. At most, it may cause a local reaction around the bite site. Normal precautions, as outlined in the introduction, should be observed.