What does a funnel-web spider look like? With pictures and treatment for bites
Spiders are creatures that people dislike, and there are many species. In this world there is one of the most deadly spiders, named the funnel-web spider, with fangs like fresh blood; the fangs can release venom, making people very frightened. The funnel-web spider is unique to Australia. Although it is not large in size, being bitten by it may cost you your life. After being bitten by a funnel-web spider, symptoms such as coma, vomiting and paralysis may appear. So what does a funnel-web spider look like? How is it treated after a bite?
1. Introduction to the funnel-web spider
1. Living habits
The funnel-web spider is about 5 cm long, and spends most of its life in an underground burrow; only the male spider climbs out of the ground to look for a mate.
This spider spins its silk inside the burrow, and when prey is at the entrance of the burrow, the silk vibrates. Then the spider jumps out to attack the prey.
2. Web shape
Spider webs are not all radial; they also have other shapes. The most typical one is the funnel-shaped spider web. Like most other kinds of spiders, funnel-web spiders also like to come out at night.
After weaving its web, the funnel-web spider hides in the “hole” of the funnel waiting for prey to take the bait. Although the web is not sticky, the silk threads crisscross, and the legs of passing insects easily become entangled in the silk. When the funnel-web spider feels the slight vibration of the web, it knows that prey has taken the bait and will immediately launch an attack, biting the prey.
3. Venom composition
The main component of the venom is (adrenotoxin), which is toxic to primates and dogs, but not toxic to rabbits. Atraxotoxin (adrenotoxin) causes changes in the membrane potential of nerve cells, making the autonomic nervous system secrete large amounts of acetylcholine, adrenaline and noradrenaline. The toxicity of the male spider is about 4 times that of the female spider.
2. How is a funnel-web spider bite treated?
1. Pressure bandage method
The bite site can be pressed tightly so that the venom is compressed within the subcutaneous tissue, which can sometimes cause it to denature naturally and lose its toxicity. When being sent to hospital for treatment or even for a serum injection, experts recommend that the pressure bandage still be kept on the affected area, because in many cases, loosening it triggers systemic symptoms.
2. Antivenom
After injection and then, injecting antivenom can quickly relieve symptoms. This antivenom is refined by the Commonwealth Serum Laboratory in Australia from rabbit serum; in 2000 the price was 760 US dollars per dose. According to research, the serum made from the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus can be used for different species of Atrax, but a larger dose is required, and this serum can also be used for bites from various species of the Blue Mountains funnel-web spider Hadronyche. Since this serum was launched in 1980, there have been no reports of death cases (from 1927 to 1980 there were 13 death cases).
Through the introduction in this article, I believe everyone has gained a certain understanding of the funnel-web spider, and of methods such as how to treat a bite. I hope it is helpful to you.