Spiders are one of the most-feared of all pests in the home that people want to exterminate. There are more phobias about spiders than any other past, and understandably so. A red-back spider, Latrodectus hasselti, have been found in natural conditions in the desert especially in domestic gardens and vegetation. If you get bitten by the wrong spider – a Red Back Spider and you have a bad reaction to the venom, apply an ice pack wrapped in thin cotton to bite site and drive safely to the hospital. Only the bite of the adult female is considered dangerous. The male is smaller than female and lack of red marking on the abdomen. All spiders are venomous, as that is how they paralyze and capture their prey. However, few disperse enough venom or have strong enough venom enough to affect humans.

Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. Reports of poisonous redback spiders are increasing among people living in new developments around the city.

Redbacks are not indigenous to the UAE and are thought to have been brought over in packing containers from Australia.

Symptoms of spider bite can vary. Some can be quite minor, while others can be very severe.
The possible symptoms as:

• Itching or rash
• Pain radiating from the site of the bite
• Muscle pain or cramping
• Reddish to purplish color or blistering
• Increased sweating
• Difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Chills
• Anxiety or restlessness
• High blood pressure

Spiders can be controlled through a variety of methods, with an integration of pest management techniques as the most effective. Techniques include exclusion, sanitation, chemical, and non- chemical controls indoor and/or out.