Funnelweb Spiders
Australian Funnel Web Spider
Spiders of the family Agelenidae are known as funnel web spiders. They are found throughout the world in forests and other moist environments. Funnel web spiders are nocturnal arachnids. They may grow as long as four centimeters and their bodies are primarily black or dark brown in color. Funnel web spiders are commonly mistaken for mouse and trapdoor spiders.
Female funnel web spiders make a web that is rather funnel-shaped and can be connected to the spider’s burrow. When an insect enters the web, vibrations alert the spider. It then rushes out from the narrow end of the funnel to seize the prey.
While females rarely leave their webs, males travel in search of mates. A male funnel web spider follows the scent of a female to her web. Females are capable of producing hundreds of eggs, which they incubate in small, silken egg sacs. Young funnel web spiders emerge within a few weeks.
The bites of a few funnel web spiders may prove extremely serious and can even result in illness. The hobo or aggressive house spider is a member of the funnel web family. The venom of the hobo spider damages the skin of victims and the bite itself may also be extremely painful. Medical treatment may be required if symptoms are severe.
Trapdoor Spider and Funnelweb Spider