Australian funnel-web spider

[trehopr1]

Now, here is a true beastie you would not like to encounter while flipping logs in Australia looking for beetles.

This is Hadronyche formidabilis, the Northern tree funnel-web spider. It is a highly venomous mygalomorph
spider found in Queensland and New South Wales.



New South Wales
Illawarra Costal Range
Altitude 2500ft., taken in
rotten log in jungle.
end of Nov.1952

I discovered this magnificently preserved example in the collection
of the museum where I once worked for 8 years. It had arrived in
a collection which had been purchased in the 1960's.

The species name is derived from the Latin formidabilis "terrifying".

It's bite is capable of causing serious illness or death in humans if
left untreated. Fortunately, no fatalities have occurred since the 
introduction of modern antivenom.

It belongs to the family Atracidae of which there are 3 genera (Atrax, Hadronyche, and Illawarra);
comprising 35 species. Six of those species are considered dangerous to humans...

[nomad]

A beast indeed, the size of those fangs is remarkable. 

[Adam Cotton]

Is this the same species of funnel-web spider that is often found in or around homes near Sydney?

[trehopr1]

This is likely one of the species found in garages and yards in suburban Sydney, however it may not be the only one. From my readings their may be at least 2 others as well.

Males are actually more venomous than females (drop for drop) in terms of toxicity. Bites from Sydney funnel-web spiders have caused 13 documented deaths (seven in children).
In all cases where the sex of the biting spider could be determined, it was found to be the male of the species.

I once saw on television a program on the 10 deadliest creatures known from Australia and they showed small live segments of each. Sure enough, they showed a spider which
looked like this wandering through some ladies yard. The woman remarked that in her area it was wise to check ones shoes every morning just to be sure there were no unpleasant
visitors.

[Paul K]

Anywhere in tropics you must check and shake very well shoes before put them on. It get use to be a habit.

[Ed]

Dec 12, 2018 19:04:42 GMT Paul K said:

Anywhere in tropics you must check and shake very well shoes before put them on. It get use to be a habit.

I just bag my shoes and take them in with me, the last thing you want to do is wake up to shoes covered in ants because you spilled some sweet bait on them! (This has happened many times)

[exoticimports]

Dec 12, 2018 19:04:42 GMT Paul K said:

Anywhere in tropics you must check and shake very well shoes before put them on. It get use to be a habit.

Heck, I still do it at home in the middle of winter, it's become such habit.

[Paul K]

Dec 14, 2018 3:38:02 GMT exoticimports said:

Dec 12, 2018 19:04:42 GMT Paul K said:

Anywhere in tropics you must check and shake very well shoes before put them on. It get use to be a habit.

Heck, I still do it at home in the middle of winter, it's become such habit.

😂😂😂👍

[Lucanidae]

I grew up in Sydney and I was actively looking for Sydney funnel wed when I was growing up. I rarely come across them. The places anyone more than likely come across them are in their swimming pools but they would be all males. I used to keep them as pet and I would found out they all started like female then they would hide and come out as males. Once I found a pregnant female and she had more then 100 babies came out of her egg sac.

[exoticimports]

Jan 9, 2019 1:46:05 GMT Lucanidae said:

I grew up in Sydney and I was actively looking for Sydney funnel wed when I was growing up. I rarely come across them. The places anyone more than likely come across them are in their swimming pools but they would be all males. I used to keep them as pet and I would found out they all started like female then they would hide and come out as males. Once I found a pregnant female and she had more then 100 babies came out of her egg sac.

Well they in Round Tree!