Redback Decor

[bloodhound31]

While cleaning up the pot plants around my front door today, I found this exquisite little redback spider and a house gecko, who would potentially become lunch for the spider.

I am so blessed and thankful for an abundance of creatures and opportunities to photograph them!

Baz.

[astroron]

Cute face on the Geco and the Redback pattern is quite vivid:thumbsup:

[firstlight]

You might find that it is the other way around. We had an abundance of spiders around our place several years ago, house spiders, redbacks etc. Suddenly the population of geckos skyrocketed and within 6 months the webs against the facia and guttering disappeared, haven't seen redbacks for years, only the occasional huntsman. Not as many geckos any more but there are some still around. Available food supply has decreased I suppose.

Great captures, Barry. The redback colouring is different to the ones that are local to Brisbane and the ones I showered with on Coopers Creek where I worked 35 years ago..

[bloodhound31]

Thanks Tony. It's funny, you are not the first person to assume it's the geckos eating the redbacks.

Yet, they do eat their own hunters at times... here's an example. (http://www.rawfish.com.au/images/venomous-redback-spider-bite-kills-snake.jpg)

and another.. (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gr6Ra9TwtNU/SSO_v5Fz5nI/AAAAAAAABPs/FUzbrwI7N2s/s320/wiki+redback+badass.jpg)

Reptiles do eat insects yes, but redbacks are obviously not to be trifled with, especially when you are only three inches long....redback spider webs are one of the strongest organic fibres around, and geckos really aren't that strong.

Baz.

[firstlight]

Thanks Barry. True, the redback will take whatever meal is served up, and that snake is pretty small. I guess that numbers will over come any obstacle.

I still find the colours interesting on your spider.

[bloodhound31]

Yeah, me too Tony. I was so fascinated by it, I didn't want to let it go. I could have studied it for ages!:thumbsup:

[firstlight]

Was the spider large? It might have been a juvenile before it got its full colouring, or is it typical of the local variety?

We have small children here... I'm afraid that it would not have seen its next meal.

[bloodhound31]

It was pretty small actually, about 1/4 the size of the full grown adult females around here. There were some even smaller males around in the same corner. Next time I'll get a shot of them too.

Baz.

[firstlight]

Possibly a Juvenile then, but Anne-Louise has just found some info saying that the males often do not lose their juvenile characteristics.