Mansfield QLD 4122
Mon–Sat 7am–6pm
ABN 45 433 415 022
0406 178 471
0406 178 471 Get a Quote
Medically Significant Venom · Annual Treatment Recommended

Redback Spider Control Brisbane

Brisbane's most dangerous spider. Found in sheds, garages, letterboxes, outdoor furniture, and garden borders. Bite is medically significant. Targeted harborage treatment, web removal, and residual spray. From $220. Annual prevention available.

Get a Quote 0406 178 471
At a Glance
Standard treatmentfrom $220
Annual planfrom $180/yr
Bite: deadly?Rare. Antivenom available.
Bite first aidIce. No bandage. See doctor.
Warranty90 days
Identification

Identifying Redback Spiders

Redback spiders are one of Australia's most recognisable species. The female is the one to watch for. Males are small and rarely cause bites.

Female size
8-14mm body. Clearly visible.
Female colour
Black body with characteristic red or orange longitudinal stripe on the upper abdomen
Web type
Untidy tangled web low to ground (usually under 30cm). Funnel retreat at rear of web.
Male size
3-4mm. Brown with pale markings. Rarely bites.
Egg sacs
White, globular, 7-10mm. Multiple sacs in the web. Each contains 250-300 eggs.
Venom Risk Context
Redback spider bites are medically significant but fatalities are extremely rare since antivenom became available in 1956. No deaths from redback envenomation have been recorded in Australia since antivenom was introduced. Bites cause significant local pain and can cause systemic effects particularly in children and elderly. Seek medical attention for any bite with symptoms beyond localised pain. Call Poisons Information: 13 11 26.
Harborage Locations

Where Redback Spiders Live in Brisbane Properties

Redbacks prefer dry, sheltered, undisturbed areas close to ground level where they can build their untidy web and wait for prey. These are the locations where bites most commonly occur in Brisbane.

Garden sheds

Floor-level along walls, under shelving, behind stored items. The highest density redback location on most Brisbane properties.

High bite risk from reaching into stored items

Letterboxes

Inside the letterbox housing, particularly metal boxes. Warm, sheltered, and rarely disturbed. Check before reaching in.

High bite risk when collecting mail

Outdoor furniture

Under chairs and table legs, in the voids of plastic outdoor furniture, and under cushion storage boxes.

Risk when moving or sitting on furniture

Garden edging and rockeries

Under garden edging, in the gaps of rockeries and retaining walls, and under large stones. Common source of house-entry populations.

Risk during gardening without gloves

Under decks and pergolas

Structural voids under decking, in the base of pergola posts, and under garden steps. Sheltered and undisturbed.

Risk when working under decking

Garage floor areas

Low-level along garage walls, in the gaps between stored equipment, and in the voids of shelving units at floor level.

Risk when moving stored items
Bite First Aid

Redback Spider Bite First Aid

First aid for redback bites differs from first aid for funnel-web bites. Applying a pressure bandage, which is correct for funnel-web, is incorrect for redback envenomation. Get this right before you need it.

Do This After a Redback Bite

Redback First Aid

Apply ice or a cold pack to the bite site. This reduces pain and slows venom spread.
Keep calm and keep the affected limb still.
Seek medical attention if systemic symptoms develop: sweating, nausea, headache, or pain spreading from bite site.
Call Poisons Information: 13 11 26.
Collect or photograph the spider for identification if safe to do so.
Children and elderly: go directly to emergency, do not wait for symptoms.
Do NOT Do These Things

Common First Aid Mistakes

Do NOT apply a pressure immobilisation bandage. This is correct for funnel-web and snake bites but is not recommended for redback envenomation and may increase pain.
Do NOT apply heat to the bite site.
Do NOT attempt to cut or suck the bite.
Do NOT dismiss the bite as minor without monitoring for systemic symptoms over 1-2 hours.
Do NOT give alcohol, painkillers, or antihistamines as a substitute for medical assessment for a child.
Treatment Process

Redback Spider Treatment Process

Redback treatment goes beyond a general perimeter spray. Because redbacks harborage in specific low-level sites, treatment must be targeted to those exact locations rather than just the external building walls.

Stage 1

Harborage Inspection

Full inspection of all shed walls, garage floors, letterbox, outdoor furniture, garden edging, and fence lines. Active redback webs and egg sacs identified and mapped before treatment begins.

Stage 2

Web and Egg Sac Removal

All webs and egg sacs are removed using a web removal tool before spray is applied. Removing egg sacs is the single most important step in preventing the next generation of redbacks. Web removal forces spiders to rebuild and contact treated surfaces.

Stage 3

Targeted Harborage Spray

Residual pyrethroid spray applied directly to all confirmed harborage locations: shed wall-floor junctions, under shelving, fence lines to 1m height, garden edging, and outdoor furniture bases. Spray penetrates low-level voids where redbacks build webs.

Stage 4

Perimeter and Garden

External building perimeter spray, garden border treatment, and specific letterbox interior spray. Full report issued. Annual treatment date noted in the report for the following season.

Why DIY Treatment Misses Redbacks

Why DIY Spray Misses Redbacks

Standard consumer spider sprays applied to external walls miss the specific low-level harborage areas where redbacks build their webs. Three structural reasons explain why professional treatment is more effective for redbacks specifically.

Redbacks build webs below spray height

Consumer sprays applied to external walls at normal height miss the floor-level and low-surface harborage areas where redbacks actually live. The spray needs to go to the wall-floor junction, under shelving bases, and inside shed corners at ground level. This requires correct equipment and knowledge of where to spray.

Egg sacs are not killed by spray

Consumer spray applied over webs does not penetrate egg sacs. A female redback can produce 250-300 eggs per sac and deposit multiple sacs in a season. Without physical removal of egg sacs as part of treatment, the next generation hatches weeks after spray is applied and repopulates the harborage site.

Low-residual consumer sprays degrade quickly outdoors

Consumer pyrethroid sprays have significantly lower residual life than the professional-grade formulations we use, particularly in Brisbane's sun and heat. A professional product applied at the correct rate to correct locations provides 6-12 months protection. A consumer spray to the same area may last 4-8 weeks.

Annual Prevention

Annual Redback Prevention Program

Redback populations in Brisbane sheds and gardens re-establish from surrounding areas within a season. A single treatment provides 6-12 months protection. Annual treatment is the most reliable approach for properties with consistent redback pressure, particularly those with established garden beds, timber retaining walls, and older sheds.

Best time to treat
Late summer (January-February) before autumn, when redback populations peak and before they begin moving indoors seeking warmth
Annual plan discount
Clients who schedule annual redback treatment receive a reduced rate from $180/year vs the standard one-off treatment rate. Call 0406 178 471 to set up an annual schedule.
High-pressure properties
Properties near bushland, with established rockeries, native gardens, or old timber sheds consistently show higher redback populations and benefit most from an annual program
Pricing

Redback Spider Treatment Cost Brisbane

All prices include inspection, web and egg sac removal, targeted harborage spray, perimeter treatment, and 90-day warranty. Annual program available at reduced rate.

Standard Treatment
from $220
Full property. Shed, garage, letterbox, garden borders, fence lines. Web and egg sac removal included. 90-day warranty.
Annual Prevention Plan
from $180/yr
One annual treatment with web and egg sac removal. Scheduled in late summer for maximum seasonal protection. Call to set up.
FAQ

Redback Spider FAQ

Is a redback spider bite deadly?
Fatalities from redback bites are extremely rare since antivenom became available in 1956. No deaths have been recorded in Australia since antivenom was introduced. Bites are medically significant and can cause significant pain and systemic effects, particularly in children and the elderly. Seek medical attention for any bite that causes symptoms beyond localised pain. Redback antivenom is available at Queensland hospitals.
What should I do if bitten by a redback spider?
Apply ice to the bite site. Do NOT apply a pressure bandage. Seek medical attention if systemic symptoms develop. Call Poisons Information on 13 11 26 for advice. Children and the elderly should go directly to emergency. Redback antivenom is available at Queensland hospitals and effectively reverses envenomation when administered promptly.
How do I prevent redback spiders in my shed?
Reduce floor-level clutter in the shed and on low shelves. Wear gloves when gardening or moving stored items. Check letterboxes before reaching in. Annual professional treatment with web and egg sac removal is the most reliable prevention. Clear garden debris from shed walls. The combination of physical prevention and annual treatment is the standard approach for Brisbane properties with consistent redback pressure.
Does redback treatment come with a guarantee?
Yes. All spider treatments include a 90-day warranty. If redback activity returns within 90 days, we return and re-treat at no charge. Redback populations can re-establish from surrounding gardens, particularly on properties near bushland, which is why annual treatment is recommended for sustained protection.
Is redback treatment safe for children and pets?
Yes. Keep children and pets out of treated areas until spray surfaces are dry, typically 1-2 hours after treatment. Once dry, the products we use present minimal risk. We recommend keeping cats away from freshly treated external surfaces until fully dry. For households with concerns about particular pets, call 0406 178 471 before booking and we will advise on any specific precautions.
All Brisbane spider species White tail spider control

Redback Treatment with Egg Sac Removal. 90-Day Warranty.

Shed · Garage · Letterbox · Garden Borders · Annual Plans Available

0406 178 471 Get a Quote