Content
- Steps
- Method 1 of 3: Identifying the funnel spider
- Method 2 of 3: Recognizing Funnel Spider Habits
- Method 3 of 3: Treating a bite
- Tips
- Warnings
Funnel spiders of the araneomorphic family consist of approximately 700 species that are found throughout the world, particularly in humid climates and forests.They are also sometimes called grass spiders due to their preference for grassland habitats. They are collectively called funnel spiders because their silk web forms a funnel shape. There are some differences between different species, but funnel spiders have a number of similar characteristics: they secrete very toxic venom and most of them are very dangerous.
Steps
1 Know what the funnel spider is. Some of the key characteristics are highlighted below. - Physical differences: usually brownish grayish with stripes near the head. Some individuals are black.
- Poisonous: Yes.
- Habitat: Worldwide.
- Nutritional style: female funnel spiders remain in burrows and come out to the entrance only to grab passing prey. Males leave burrows and roam in search of food. Both males and females mainly prey on insects, lizards and frogs.
Method 1 of 3: Identifying the funnel spider
The length of the funnel spider depends on its species, but they can be from 1 to 20 mm long.
1 Recognize the female funnel spider by comparing her features to the male.- Take a look at her eyes. They will be very small and close together. Most species have two parallel rows of eyes (4 in each row), but few species have eyes in curved rows. Some individuals have no eyes at all!
- Pay attention to your body structure. Females are stockier than males and have shorter legs and a larger abdomen.
- Take a look at the pair of spinning organs protruding from the abdomen. She uses them to weave her unique web.
2 First of all, distinguish males from females by their paws. In males, the legs are longer, thinner and bristly. 
3 Take a look at the backs of males and females. They often have distinctive brown or gray stripes.
Method 2 of 3: Recognizing Funnel Spider Habits
Female funnel spiders build a funnel-shaped web that adjoins its burrow. When an insect touches the web, its vibrations alert the spider and it runs to the entrance of the hole to catch its prey.
1 Look for funnel spiders underground. The funnel web is underground and very well camouflaged, making it virtually invisible. Most often spiders are found: - In the rainforest
- In a wooded area
- In the meadows
- Under the fallen leaves
Method 3 of 3: Treating a bite
Some funnel spider bites can be very dangerous. The bites of several species of funnel spiders in Australia have resulted in human deaths. If any species of funnel spider has bitten you, take the following first aid measures immediately:
1 Remain calm to prevent the poison from spreading too quickly.
2 If you have been bitten on the arm or leg, apply a tourniquet to the bite. The tourniquet should be applied above the bite site to slow down the effect of the poison. 
3 Secure the limb with a splint.
4 Pick up a spider so that it can be identified, even if you crushed it.
5 Get immediate medical attention.
Tips
- Funnel web is very difficult to spot and wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid being bitten while fishing in the garden.
- Male funnel spiders live for a year, while females live for 20 years. They are hunted by road wasps and other types of spiders.
- Remember to shake out your sleeping bags and shoes when you go hiking to be sure there is no spider hiding in your gear. Be especially careful when walking through bushes, as you may accidentally disturb the entrance of the funnel spider's burrow. With any disturbance, the spider will run out of the hole to bite the intruder.
Warnings
- The water spider also belongs to the funnel spider family. Although they live below the surface of the water, they rise up in the air and are highly poisonous.
- Male bites from two large specimens, the Sydney funnel spider and the tree funnel spider, were fatal.
