A Katipo

What is an Katipo Spider?

A katipo spider is one of New Zealand’s endangered spiders and native. In north america and Australia this kind of spider would be called the “Black Window” because of its colour.

(Female Spider)

This female spider only lays its eggs coming to the end of a year. When a baby spider is born it is protected in the female’s web or lair. A female katipo spider has a pea size abdomen or belly and can grow up to 6 mm in length. As female katipo starts to mature they change colour before they get to adult stage. On its abdomen (belly) they have a red strip down to the surface or sometimes a small red patch that is located on the underside of it abdomen (belly).

(Male Spider)

A male katipo is much smaller than the female, measuring up to 4 mm in length. The male katipo retains (keeps) its same markings as it is shared by many other female and male spiders.  

Katipo spiders live in places such as driftwood,sand,pingao which is a bush that is on the beach that is long as grass. They eat only insects that crawl on the ground such as beetles. A katipo spider belongs to a worldwide Latrodectus family of spiders. If you ever get bitten by a katipo spider you are likely to get a swollen arm or leg pain and vomiting non stop. But this won’t occur all the time because it is uncommon and unpleasant sight to see.