Katipo spider
Latrodectus katipo (Powell)
Order: Araneae
Family: Theridiidae
Size range
- Small to medium–sized spider. Body length about 8 mm
Distribution
- Katipo is a New Zealand native, closely related to the Australian Redback
- North and South Island
Life History
- Found only near the seashore, under drift wood or associated with coastal grasses
- Makes a small sticky web to snare beetles and other crawling insects
- Bite is poisonous. Antidote is available at hospitals