The Redback

Redback spiders, or Latrodectus hasselti, originate from Australia and it is understood they were imported to the UAE around 15 years ago.

They are common in disturbed and urban areas and are regularly spotted in the Springs, Meadows, Lakes and Greens communities.

They favour proximity to human habitation, with webs being built in dry, sheltered sites, such as among rocks, in logs, shrubs, junk-piles, sheds, or toilets.

Redback spiders are less common in winter months in the UAE.

Redback bites occur frequently in Australia, 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, including local sweating at bite site, muscular weakness, nausea and vomitting.

"I am currently sequencing black widow spiders and their relatives for a nuclear protein coding gene (Histone 3) and a nuclear ribosomal gene (28S).

"This project is part of a larger research programme on the evolution of widow spiders in collaboration with colleagues at the Field Museum (Petra Sierwald), the University of California at Riverside (Jessica Garb and Cheryl Hayashi), and the University of Toronto (Maydianne Andrade).

"Ultimately, we intend to combine morphological, behavioural, and molecular data to produce a new phylogeny of Latrodectus.

"Widow spiders are best known for their medical importance, but they also have a fascinating sexual biology featuring cannibalism, size dimorphism, and stereotypical courtship behaviour.

"Knowledge of both the sexual behaviour and venom characteristics of Latrodectus species is uneven and rarely comparative, so much of our effort will be focused on observing multiple species both in the lab and in the field.

"In addition, we will add morphological, behavioural, and additional molecular characters to the phylogenetic analysis.

"Once this is accomplished, we will be able to discuss the evolution of Latrodectus venom and sexual behaviour. Looking at the spiders from all over the world will help determine where they breed and why and how dangerous each one is."

But in Dubai, where the Redback population is rapidly growing, residents say the study is simply not enough and want more research to be carried out by the municipality.