An invasive species of poisonous arachnid called the redback spider, which was first discovered in Japan 28 years ago in Osaka Prefecture, has now spread across nearly the entire country, according to the National Institute for Environmental Studies and other sources.
The redback spider is found in regions such as Australia and Southeast Asia. Males are 4 to 5 millimeters long, and females are 7 to 10 millimeters long. The female is venomous, and its bite can cause severe pain and, in some cases, sweating, palpitations and other symptoms.
The redback spider was first found in Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture, in September 1995. The poisonous arachnid is believed to have attached itself to containers shipped from overseas. According to the Osaka prefectural government and others, there have been more than 100 reports of injury in the prefecture so far.
