If you come across a massive, venomous funnel-web spider on its egg sac, your immediate reaction might be to flee. However, the Australian Reptile Park in New South Wales is urging Sydney residents to stay calm, carefully collect the spider and its eggs, and place them in a secure container to help create life-saving antivenom.
Funnel-web spiders, particularly the species near Sydney, are infamous for their fast-acting venom. Before the introduction of antivenom in 1981, 13 people died from funnel-web bites. Since then, fatalities have been prevented.
Every November, when the spiders’ breeding season begins, the Australian Reptile Park calls on the public for spider donations to produce antivenom. The zoo is the sole provider of funnel-web spider antivenom, which is made by “milking” the venom from collected spiders. Emma Teni, the park’s spider keeper, highlighted the importance of public support in this life-saving process. “We need at least 150 spiders for just one vial of antivenom, so we rely on the public to ensure we have enough venom to meet the demand,” she said.
Funnel-web spiders typically inhabit cool, damp areas with dense vegetation but can also be found in homes, often in places like piles of laundry, shoes left outside, or garden debris. The park provides instructions for safely collecting the spiders. Using a long spoon, one can gently transfer the spider and her egg sac into a jar, being cautious not to anger the spider and destroy the eggs.
Each egg sac contains about 150-200 spiderlings, a crucial resource for antivenom production. Once captured, the spiders should be dropped off at designated collection points or at the Australian Reptile Park.
People whose lives were saved by the antivenom have shared their gratitude and support for the program. “ARP and your Antivenom program saved my life in 1994,” commented Nicole Webber. “Please support the program with safely captured spiders and donations.” Karen Wright also shared how her son’s life was saved in 1995 and expressed her happiness that the program continues to save lives.
