A reptile centre is issuing a warning to residents to look out for a deadly spider species, while scientists seem to be rubbing their hands at the prospect.
The funnel-web spider is one of the deadliest eight-leggers in Australia, and their mating season is now coming up as the country approaches summer. With the heavy rainfall of the last few months Down Under, this means it’s the perfect condition for spiders to find a mate – which means they’re prowling around residential areas.
According to Australian Reptile Park, the funnel-web spider can kill a person in under 15 minutes with no medical treatment. Although no one has died since 1981 when the antivenom was created, the little critters have killed at least 13 people over the years.
(Image: Getty Images)
Along with the stern warning to watch out for the arachnids comes a strange request from scientists. Residents are being asked to collect the deadly creatures and donate them to the Australian Reptile Park so they can be milked for their silk in order to create the antivenom.
“With breeding season upon us and the weather creating ideal conditions, we rely on spider donations more than ever,” said Australian Reptile Park spider keeper Emma Teni. “Male Funnel-web spiders have short lifespans, and with approximately 150 spiders required to make just one vial of antivenom, we need the public’s help to ensure we have enough venom to meet demand.”
Aussies are being asked to be on alert for spiders in cool, dark areas – particularly shoes, piles of laundry, pools and piles of debris in gardens.
(Image: THE AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK/AFP)
“If you spot an egg sac while collecting a spider, it’s important to safely collect that as well. It can provide a robust supply of healthy young spiders to aid in our antivenom production,” Teni said.
The park provides some instructions for what to do if you find one of the deadly spiders – basically trap it in a plastic or glass jar, add some soil and then seal it in.
How to milk a spider
Anesthetise the spider with carbon dioxide
Pin the spider down to a petri dish
Use a machine to pull each strand of silk out of the spider’s spinnerets
Pull the silk thread over onto a spool
Attach the silk thread with glue
Run the motor to start collection
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