Redback spiders in Dubai: how dangerous are they?

Similar-looking arachnids have been spotted in The Greens, The Springs and the Mira community

A redback spider pictured in its native Australia. Getty Images

A red back spider lurking under a backyard tap. Fairfax Media via Getty Images

This image of a redback spider was taken by ecologist Adrian Hudson. Courtesy: Adrian Hudson

A Chilean scientist shows a black-widow spider at his laboratory. The black widow is a close relative of the redback. Reuter/Carlos Barria CB

Sightings of one of the world's most feared spiders are increasing in Dubai, according to a leading expert in the UAE.

A creature that looks very similar to the venomous redback spider, which is native to Australia, has been spotted several times in recent months across the emirate in The Greens, The Springs and the Mira community on Al Qudra Road.

There is no definitive evidence that this is the same species as the Australian redback, and it could be one of three other species that look almost identical.

"With the UAE importing as much produce as it does, especially from Australia, it would be unreasonable to believe the Australian redback does not occur here," said ecologist and Dubai resident Adrian Hudson.

The expert said it was easy to explain the increase in sightings of the redback – which belongs to the Latrodectus family of spiders – because they are breeding and colonising new areas.

There hasn't been a recorded death from a redback bite since the 1950s

While many people believe redbacks' venom to be potentially fatal, their fearsome reputation as killers is exaggerated.

"There is an incorrect impression that if you are bitten by a redback spider then you will die," Mr Hudson said.

“That’s actually not the case at all. I have been in contact with colleagues about this and there hasn’t been a recorded death from a redback bite since the 1950s.

"Modern medicine means it is unlikely a bite from a Latrodectus spider will kill you."

He said that while data for spider bites in the UAE was unavailable, there were many global examples that proved a Latrodectus spider bite was not likely to be fatal, including in South Africa where hundreds of incidents are reported as mildly symptomatic.

Widow spider bites unlikely to cause death

An antivenom is available for redback spider bites. Ian Waldie / The National

Several thousand black widow bites are reported in the US States each year, while the Australian Museum said more than 2,000 people were bitten on average each year by the redback.

The museum said redback bites were more likely during the summer, with early symptoms including pain, which can become severe, muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting.

An antivenom is available and no deaths have been recorded since its introduction in 1956.

Given the physical similarity between redbacks and related species known as widow spiders, and the huge amount of produce imported into the UAE, Mr Hudson said it would not be unreasonable to presume other species of widow spider are in the UAE.

But he did offer some words of comfort to Dubai residents with arachnophobia.

"To get bitten by a redback you would literally have to go and stick your finger into its web and touch it before it will bite. They are normally shy and reclusive and remain in the web from its construction until they die, unless forced to move," he said.

“The only time see you will see them move is during dispersal when the youngsters start moving away from the adult’s nest.”

Physical reaction to bites

A doctor in Dubai said requiring hospital attention for spider bites in the UAE was extremely rare and she had not come across any cases in her practice.

"Most spider bites will have little effect on people but some species can on occasion cause a reaction due to the venom injected," said Dr Shilpa Murthy, general practitioner at Aster Clinic, Arabian Ranches.
"Bites may result in localised pain, tingling and small swelling around the bite.

“Occasionally more serious symptoms can occur but are usually an exceptional reaction of the individual to the spider’s venom," she said.

After this a weal could develop, typically taking the form of raised red, itchy and irritated skin, which could take eight weeks to heal.

She said pain and numbness at the site of the bite could be followed by sweating and nausea, lasting up to 24 hours.

If the pain did not subside by that stage, she recommended washing the bite and placing ice packs on it, before travelling to hospital.

In pictures – endangered animals in the UAE

The sand dune cat (Felis margarita) is a nocturnal creature that lives in shallow burrows and hunts rodents. Research published in 2005 indicated that only 250 remained in Abu Dhabi emirate. Courtesy, Al Ain Zoo

The Arabian leopard is currently listed as critically endangered. Pawan Singh / The National

This is the first sighting of the rare Rüppell's fox (Vulpes rueppellii) in 13 years. Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

Whale sharks are known as jinbe zame in Japanese, inspiring their newly discovered residents' name.. Getty Images

Arabian Caracal (Caracal caracal) - IUCN status: least concern - thought to be extinct, the environment agency captured daytime and nighttime footage of the creature for the first time since 1984. Courtesy EAD

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) - IUCN status: Endangered - The UAE is one of 140 countries where the green turtle is a native species; numbers have fallen worldwide - Two years ago Emirates Wildlife Society – WWF launched Gulf Green Turtle Conservation. Courtesy Paul Velasco/EWS-WWF

Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Found on islands of the coast of several Gulf states, including the UAE - Threatened by development and oil spills, the species has a total population of less than half a million. Courtesy- Rob Gubiani

Emirati leaf-toed gecko (Asaccus caudivolvulus) - IUCN status: Least concern - Only found in mountainous regions of north-eastern UAE and northern Oman - More recent research suggests it actually consists of three species, one of which is unique to the UAE – making it the country's only endemic vertebrate – and threatened by development. Photo Courtesy: Johannes Els.

Sea cow (Dugong dugon) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Locally, boat strikes and fishing net entanglement is a threat, although there are major conservation efforts - The population in UAE waters is thought to be several thousand

The Crested Porcupine, a rodent thought to be extinct in the UAE, was recorded by camera traps in Abu Dhabi. Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi

Gulf sand gecko (Pseudoceramodactylus khobarensis) - IUCN status: Least concern - Found widely in the Arabian peninsula, especially in the UAE - This species is not endangered but its population is declining, and in the UAE it faces threats from the development of coastal sabkha habitat. Photo courtesy-Salvador Carranza)

Keyserling's wonder gecko (Teratoscincus keyserlingii) - IUCN status: Not yet evaluated - Although this species is also found in Iran, the UAE population is the only one in Arabia - Heavily threatened by development, it could be driven to extinction locally, although the Mohamed bin Zayed Species. Pritpal Soorae / Environment Agency Abu Dhabi

Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) - IUCN status: Endangered - Widely distributed, but threatened by fishing for its fins and as accidental bycatch - Numbers have plummeted by four-fifths over the last quarter of a century. Image by © Norbert Wu/Science Faction/Corbis

Hawksbill turtles, rated as Critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, have begun laying their eggs on a beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Arabian tahr (Arabitragus jayakari) - IUCN status: Endangered - Restricted to mountainous regions of north-eastern UAE and northern Oman - Worldwide population is probably below 5,000. ANTONIE ROBERTSON / The National

Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) - IUCN status: Endangered - Often become entangled in fishing nets - A recent census found 701 individuals, so the waters off Abu Dhabi have the world's largest single population. Roland Seitre / Minden

The semaphore gecko is one of several species we have learned a great deal about in recent years. Getty Images

The Houbara bustard is classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Courtesy International Fund For Houbara Conservation

Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Formerly listed as endangered, the UAE's reintroduction programme has helped to increase numbers - The wild population is about 1,200, just over half of which are UAE reintroduced individuals. Mike Young / The National

Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) - IUCN status: Vulnerable - Found in much of the Middle East in gravelly and stony areas, but numbers have declined - Two sub-species exist in the UAE, where it is threatened by habitat loss

Green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) - IUCN status: Critically endangered - The largest sawfish, it can reach up to seven metres in length - This coastal species has declined across its range and has become extinct from some countries. AP Photo

The Arabian tahr has been categorised as an endangered species, with a global population of less than 5,000. Courtesy TDIC

Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) - IUCN status: Near threatened - Populations have suffered because of fishing - This species was spotted this year off the UAE's east coast