Pest Library

Characteristics

Not all funnel-weaver spiders are deadly. In fact, there are three known families for the funnel-web spider, which are Agelenidae, Dipluridae and Hexathelidae.

The Agelinadae spiders can be found throughout the world and is considered not dangerous. They may also bite, but their bites are not harmful to humans. This spider is 4/25 to 4/5 inch long and have a gray to brown coloration. A distinguishing feature that this spider has is the spots on its back and legs. They have eight eyes that are arranged in two rows of four.

The Hexathelidae spiders are found in Australia and is considered the most dangerous spider around the world. They are medium sized to about an inch in length. Their color is brown or black, and has a shiny carapace that is lightly haired.

The Dipluridae are mostly known as funnel-web tarantulas and can be found around the world.

Habitat

Agelinadae. This funnel-web spider can be found in grassy areas during the summer. When they are near or inside the home, this spider may be seen in a corner of a porch or in cracks or crevices.

Hexathelidae. This family prefers to live in moist, sheltered places. They are commonly found in rotting holes in the bark, in wet forest trees, in stumps, in the ground, or ferns above the ground.

Behavior

Agelinadae. This arachnid is a nocturnal spider that will be commonly seen searching for its prey at night. Males are mostly the ones who will go wander off through houses as they search for females to mate or if they are searching for food to eat. Females commonly stay in their webs.

Hexathelidae. They create irregular strands of silk at the entrance of their burrow. The holes that they create may have bits of bark as a disguise for their prey to be lured in. They prefer to live in moist areas since they can easily dry out.

Food

Agelinadae. The Agelinadae family eats different types of insects and spiders that get trapped in their web. The main purpose of their funnel-web is not to capture prey, but as a retreat while they wait for their prey to come. However, they will still be able to capture unsuspected insects through the large sheet web that encircles the entrance of the funnel. Once their prey is caught, the spider who will sense the trapped animal through vibration, will then approach the insect and bite the victim.

Hexathelidae. Their prey on insects and small vertebrates like lizards and frogs that gets trapped in the entrance of their web. Once their prey is caught, the funnel-web spider will quickly approach its prey and kill it with its venom.

Life Cycle

Agelinadae. This family will mostly live for just a year or less. Some of its species can live for two years, if they are lucky enough to live in a warmer place. The main goal of a male is to search for a female, which is why he is commonly found wandering outside. He can mate a couple of times with different females, but will soon die after his purpose is served. Once the female is able to produce eggs, she will place these eggs inside a sac, which she will cover in webbing for added protection. Some of these females are also unfortunate for not being able to see their eggs hatched since they may die while in the middle of protecting their sacs. Spiderlings will usually hatch during the spring.

Hexathelidae. The female funnel-web spider is sedentary. Mating happens when the male finds her. Then, the two will spar until the female accepts him. The female will then have eggs that she will place in an egg sac. After it hatches, the baby spiders will still stay with their mother until they are big and able to do it on their own. While the males will just have only a couple of months to live, and will mostly die after a couple of mating, the female can live longer and some of them can even live for twenty years.

Other Information and Tips

Depending on the family, the funnel-web spiders may pose a threat or not to an individual. It is necessary to know the family of this funnel-web spider to know its dangers. For instance, the male Sydney funnel-web spider and the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider are considered deadly and dangerous. If you fear about the type of spider infestation you have on your premises, call a pest control professional to identify the family and species for you.

Photo by Xvazquez (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons / resized from original