Funnel web spiders are a group of spiders that belong to the Dipluridae family in the order Araneida. They get this name from the shape of the web that they weave. Since there are several varieties of funnel web spiders, they aren’t limited to one geographic location. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to funnel web spider identification and basic facts.
What Are Funnel Web Spiders?
There are more than 40 different species of funnel web spiders. When it comes to funnel web spider identification, they are usually medium to large in size and are different shades of black and brown. The funnel web spider’s size can be anywhere from 5 to 10 centimeters long, including the legs and body.
All species of funnel web spiders fall into two genera: Atrax and Hadronyche. Identifying them can be tricky, since they resemble several other kinds of spiders, particularly trapdoor spiders, which aren’t as dangerous as funnel web spiders.
These spiders are quite dangerous, so much so that experts agree that they’re the most dangerous in the world. This is because they have powerful fangs that can cut through items like soft-soled shoes, fingernails, or toenails. While bites from both male and female funnel spiders are serious, research shows that the venom from males is more toxic than that of females.
What Is the Funnel Web Spider’s Habitat?
Since there are several species of funnel web spiders, they can be found around the world. Thirty varieties live in Eastern Australia and Tasmania, especially around Sydney. Because of this, the best-known funnel spider is the Sydney funnel web spider. The male of this species is the most dangerous spider in all of Australia.
Outside of Australia, there are funnel web spiders in parts of New Zealand, Europe, and Chile. They aren’t native to the U.S., but some people do keep funnel web spiders as exotic pets. Similar spiders, funnel weavers, do live in parts of the United States. While the most lethal ones live in Australia, proceed with caution if you spot a spider that looks like a funnel web in these areas.
Funnel web spiders live in burrows close to the ground, like under rocks, in stumps, or under logs. Occasionally, they live in ferns or tree trunks above the ground. They create long, silk threads that funnel into the burrow to create a small hole, which is where they get their name. Funnel web spiders line their burrow with silk and create a tunnel, usually less than 30 centimeters long. The spider lives at the end of this tunnel, where it waits for prey to get trapped in the silk threads.
Funnel Web Spider Lifespan
Like all spiders, funnel webs reproduce by laying eggs. During mating season, which varies by location, a male funnel web spider will communicate with the female through a process called web stroking. If the female is interested, she will accept him into her web. After mating, the female lays anywhere from 100 to 200 eggs in an egg case, which she weaves into the web in or near the funnel to protect it.
About a month later, the eggs hatch, and spiderlings pour out. They already look like adult funnel web spiders, just smaller. As they grow, they shed their skin. Eventually, the spiderlings build their own webs, which they will live in for the rest of their lives. The lifespan can vary depending on the species, but many funnel web spiders only live for about a year. However, spiders in warmer climates might live longer.
During its lifetime, a funnel web spider will build bigger webs as it grows. It spends a lot of its time here, waiting for prey. Spiders only abandon their webs if they are frequently being disturbed. Male Sydney funnel web spiders will leave the web to walk around at night, especially after rainy weather. This is also when they are known to enter homes.
Unlike some other spiders, the funnel web’s web isn’t sticky. The silk strands trap prey by slowing it down and tripping it up, giving the funnel web the chance to pounce, bite, and inject the prey with its toxic venom. They eat a variety of flying insects, but may also eat beetles or cockroaches.
Funnel Web Spider Safety
If you are in an area that has funnel web spiders, always wear shoes with thick soles. For activities like yard work and gardening, wear thick gloves that cover your hands. Be cautious in areas that can have burrows, like near logs or rocks.
While some funnel web spider bites from certain species aren’t serious, some can be deadly. The venom from the Sydney funnel web, for example, can incur death in just 15 minutes without treatment. While getting bitten isn’t very common, a funnel web spider will bite if it feels threatened. These spiders like to keep to themselves, so they will only attack if you start poking around in their burrows. It also takes a lot of energy for the spider to create venom, so it won’t use it unless it has to.
Funnel web spider bite treatment. Getting bit by a funnel web is painful and should be treated very seriously. Symptoms can occur all over the body and include:
- Collapsing from shock
- Rapid heart rate
- Drooling
- Double vision
- Difficulty swallowing
- Tingling in the lips
- Difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Redness around the bite
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Shaking
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Joint pain
If you suspect a funnel web spider bite, seek out emergency care right away, just in case. The protocol is similar to that of a snakebite. Try to stay calm and still while waiting for help. In the U.S., call 911 or Poison Control for assistance and advice. Immediately after the bite, you should clean the area with soap and water and wrap it in a bandage. Immobilize the area by attaching a splint, and then keep your body as still as possible. Keep the bandage and splint in place while en route to the hospital.