The lookalike spider that fools everyone. The false katipo looks almost identical to the native katipo, a small, glossy, black spider with a red or orange stripe on the back. But the false katipo has a few differences. The stripe is usually fainter, the abdomen is slightly more pointed and the web is a messy tangle rather than the neat, sticky web of the true katipo. These spiders are the imposters of the sand dune. They build their tangled, messy webs in low vegetation, under driftwood and in the corners of buildings. They feed on small insects, beetles and other invertebrates, using their venom to paralyse their prey. Their bite is painful but not dangerous to humans, causing local swelling and discomfort that fades within a day or two. False katipo have a complicated relationship with their native cousins. They compete with katipo for food and habitat, and in many areas, they have displaced the native spider entirely. They are also much more tolerant of disturbed habitats, which is why they thrive in gardens, parks and urban areas. The false katipo arrived from South Africa in the early 20th century, probably as a stowaway in cargo or on imported plants. Since then, they have spread rapidly across the North and South Islands, colonising sand dunes, coastal vegetation and suburban gardens. The female false katipo builds a tangled, irregular web in low vegetation or under debris. She hangs upside down in the centre, waiting for prey to become entangled. The web lacks the sticky gum-footed threads of the true katipo, but it is still effective at capturing small insects. The spider uses her front legs to feel the vibrations, rushing out to bite and wrap any struggling victim. Males are smaller and more mobile, wandering in search of females during the breeding season. They are often seen crossing walls and floors at night, their red-striped abdomens catching the light. To see a false katipo is to see an imposter. A spider that looks like a national treasure but acts like an invader, pushing the real katipo out of its own home. They are sometimes called the redback's cousin or the false widow in other countries. In New Zealand, they are the imposter of the sand dune.