Red House Spider (with prey)

Description:

These spiders are all red/orange-brown, including their legs, but otherwise look like Redback Spiders (Latrodectus hasselti) in shape and size. Body length: females 7 mm, males about 3 mm. (Other sources say length incl. legs can be up to size of 20c piece, although the size of my spotting was considerably smaller). They produce a messy tangled web in corners around cooler locations around houses. Breeding year long with no recognisable season of breeding in Queensland. Remains in web unless disturbed when it falls quickly to the ground on a (safety) dragline. Ants and other insects are its main prey. Another reference with good pictures and info: http://www.findaspider.org.au/find/spide...

Habitat:

Cosmopolitan, throughout warmer parts of Australia; family is found worldwide. An introduced spider that prefers cooler locations, e.g., cupboards and corners, cornices, etc. around houses.

Notes:

This high-drama took place on the window sill above my kitchen sink, on top of all things... the kitchen sponge. The fly got caught in the tangled web and rest is history.