Euphorbia Mammillaris Fimbriata

Top photo of a female redback spider on this Euphorbia! Thanks for sharing @dufflebag ❤️🕷❤️ Did you know that “most reported spider bites within Australia come from the Redback, yet there have been no subsequent deaths for over 50 years, thanks to the introduction of an anti-venom. Redback spiders aren’t naturally aggressive and won’t bite unless their webs are disturbed or they are accidentally picked up and sometimes give a non-venomous warning bite if threatened.” #wildlifewednesday #spider

“In a brutal process of reproduction, the male redback spider occupies the female’s attention during mating by offering her his abdomen. The female inserts digestive juices into the male’s body, and during this breeding behaviour that is unique to the Latrodectus hasselti species, the female continues to ‘digest’ the male while he inserts a palp into the female.”

“The female then lays three to eight egg sacks between September and May, each filled with around 300 eggs. Another tough reality of the redback life cycle takes place when most of the hatchlings are either eaten by their siblings or succumb to wasp parasitism, with only a few reaching maturity at around three to four months.” https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/fact-file/fact-file-redback-spider-latrodectus-hasselti/

😟 Hide your stomachs guys!

Related to the #blackwidowspider 👀😱

I find nature so fascinating! @novicegardenlover

I appreciate the fact redbacks and black widow spiders have their distinctive markings = warning of danger @sushiwaitress

Wow she’s beautiful!🕷️

Agree! @pumpkin74