Burrowing Spiders
The following spiders do not construct webs and commonly wait in their burrows or hunt down their insect prey. Burrows are built in the ground, at the base of trees, shrubs, rocks or fences and vary in depth, the amount of silk material used, the number of side tunnels and the type of entrance. Some spiders construct a door at the burrow entrance, which can be a plug or hinged door.
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Mouse Spider (Missulena species)
The female Mouse Spider is dark brown to black and very stout. They are 20-30 mm in body length with a broader head than that of a funnel web. The male Mouse Spider is smaller, about 12 mm long with a blue-black body. It has bright red fangs and fang bases and a red cephalothorax (first half of body). The male can be very aggressive and deliver a painful bite. The Mouse Spider's burrow is vertical with an oval entrance and two doors.
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Brown Trap Door Spider Misgolas (Dyarcyops)
Brown Trap Door Spiders are often confused with the Funnel Web Spider. Female spiders are 25-35 mm in length, and males are 20 mm. Mature males have a small spur on their first pair of front legs. Both male and female spiders are usually dark brown, and occasionally black. The female has a honey coloured pattern on its head. Most Misgolas species build burrows on level ground, slopes or banks. They have no door to their burrow entrance. These spiders can inflict a painful bite but it is not fatal. The brown trapdoor is common in the Brindabella Ranges and their burrows may be seen in road cuttings.
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Funnel web spiders Atraxand Hadronyche
Although not common in the ACT, regular sightings of Funnel Web Spiders do occur. The female measures approximately 30mm in body length, males about 25mm. Both spiders are shiny and black. Mature males have a spur on the second pair of front legs. Females are seldom seen, as they spend most of their lives in burrows with funnel-like silken entrances, located in crevices, under rocks or logs, usually in a cool, damp site. The bite of the male funnel web can be fatal, but an anti-venom is available. Male spiders are highly aggressive and when disturbed they will rear up with their fangs exposed and bite repeatedly. Funnel web spiders are usually found on the ground around rubble, firewood, tree stumps, rockeries, tree roots, ferns and fence posts. When bringing material such as this into the ACT from areas where Funnel Webs are common such as coastal areas, carefully inspect the material for spiders before transporting.
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First Aid treatment for Spider Bites
It is important to apply treatment as soon as a spider bite has occurred. If possible, the spider (dead or alive) should also be collected and taken with the patient to the hospital/doctor for correct identification.
In most cases a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel applied to the affected area to reduce the pain and swelling will be all that is required. Monitor the condition of the patient and seek immediate medical help if allergic reactions occur.
For further information contact the ACT Poisons Information Centre at the Canberra Hospital on 13 11 26.
