Funnel-webs

The Australian Reptile Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Somersby on Sydney's Central Coast. Last July the park's main building caught fire, and more than 500 reptiles and amphibians perished. About 400 funnel-web spiders were also killed in the blaze. Most people were saddened to hear about the deaths of the reptiles, but few felt sorry for the funnel-webs!

Funnel-web spider (Atrax and Hadronyche spp.)

36 species of funnel-web spiders have been identified. They are found from Tasmania to Queensland, and as far west as the Gulf Ranges area of South Australia. The Sydney Funnel-web spider is found from Newcastle to Nowra and west to Lithgow. Funnel-webs are large black spiders with purplish brown abdomens. The males are smaller than the females, and often have a spur half way along the second leg on each side. The venom from the male is sometimes more toxic than that of the female. In summer and autumn males leave their burrows in search of females and often enter houses, particularly after wet weather.

To avoid spider bites:

Shake shoes before putting them on. Keep screen doors closed. Don't leave shoes and clothes outside.

Don't assume that funnel-webs on the bottom of swimming pools are dead - they can trap air in hairs on the abdomen and survive for up to 30 hours underwater.

If bitten treat as for snakebite: apply a pressure bandage to the bite site, keep the patient calm and still, and transport to hospital immediately.

Venom milking program

For many years the Australian Reptile Park has been collecting venom from male funnel-web spiders, and sending it to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory in Melbourne where it is used to make an antivenom. The park is the sole provider of venom to CSL, and as stocks of antivenom are critically low the loss of the 400 funnel-webs is bad news for future spider bite victims. The park desperately needs more spiders so that it can resume its supplies to the CSL, and has appealed to members of the public to help by catching male funnel-webs.

How to catch a funnel-web

Place a wide-mouthed jar over the spider. Slide a piece of cardboard underneath and turn the jar over. Seal securely, first making sure that the spider has dropped to the bottom of the jar. Place about 10cm of damp soil into the jar with the spider; replace the lid and store out of sunlight and away from heat. (Note: make sure the soil is not too damp, or the spider might drown.) Do not place two spiders in the same jar, as one will kill the other.

Contact the Australian Reptile Park for the location of your nearest drop off centre.

Warning: your first priority is your own safety. Do not take risks, and do not become a spider bite victim yourself.

Further information

Our segment was filmed at:

Australian Reptile Park
Pacific Highway
Somersby, NSW, 2250
Phone: (02) 4340 1022
Website: www.reptilepark.com.au

The Australian Reptile Park reopens on September 9. It will then be open every day from 9am-5pm. In NSW cash donations to help the rebuilding program can be made through any branch of the Commonwealth Bank.

Copyright CTC Productions 2000