"It is true that of the 10 most poisonous arachnids on the planet, Australia has 9 of them. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that of the 9 most poisonous arachnids, Australia has all of them. " Douglas Adams

For arachnophobes, the Funnelweb shows that fear of spiders is not unjustified. Big black and hairy, it can grow to a length of 4.5 cm. Its fangs are equally impressive. The size of a cats’ claws, they literally drip with venom powerful enough to kill several adult humans. Like a snake, it strikes them down from a height with a force powerful enough to pierce a fingernail.

Befitting its intimidating appearance, is its venom. The venom contains a toxin called atraxtoxin which attacks the nerves - sending thousands of electrical impulses through them. Muscles twitch violently and the victim experiences a profuse flow of sweat, tears and saliva. If left untreated, the victim can suffer respiratory collapse, slip into a coma, suffer brain damage and die. The Funnelweb has killed people in less than 15 minutes. No other spider has killed people in less than two hours.

Curiously, the Funnelweb's venom only affects primates (ie humans) which lack a substance in their blood that inactivates the venom. Other mammals such as koalas, rats, magpies and possums are relatively immune.

On the positive side, Funnelwebs don't nest in houses so contact with humans is rare. They dig themselves a burrow in moist gardens, set up tripwires and attack any cockroaches or beetles that come there way. But occasionally the hunter becomes the hunted as they face aggressive predatation from centipedes, lizards and king crickets.

When mature, adult males leave their burrows and head off in search of females and may occasionally wander into houses and garages. They try to move by night so as to avoid predatation from reptiles, birds and small marsupials. By day they will seek refuge under logs or in shoes. Homeowners are generally advised that when the Funnelweb is about, leaving one's ugg boots outside, no matter how smelly they are, really isn't a wise move.

Sometimes the spider may fall in into backyard swimming pools where they can float supported by air bubbles trapped among their body hairs. If swimming, it is generally advised to avoid touching fluffy balls of black hair.

Although they may be a nasty piece of work and are very common throughout Eastern Australia, deaths from Funnelwebs are rare. Prior to the introduction of antivenom in 1980, there had only been 13 known fatalities. Since the antivenom has been in use, no deaths have been recorded.

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An Internet Service Provider is known as Funnelweb Internet.

Industry

1)Pesticides - The Funnelweb's venom may form the basis for new, environmentally friendly pesticides. Tests on one toxin indicate that it kills insects quickly but has no impact on the cells of humans or other mammals.

2) Eradication - Although there is little money in breeding the Funnelweb, there is a great industry based on destroying them. Unfortunately, pest control may also kill or drive away the crickets, centipedes, frogs, lizards, birds and other spiders that prey on the Funnelweb or compete with them for food.

As new Funnelwebs simply move in from the neighbour's property, in the absence of predators and competitors, they can breed unfetted.