Funnel-web spiders usually hide away in winter, but not at one Castle Hill resident’s home.

Rod Byers found five funnel-web spiders in his Castle Hill yard at the end of July, with one measuring about 40mm in length.  Hills Guardian Pest Control’s Jim Harvey said while the deadly spiders did not usually surface in the cooler weather, July’s heavy rains may have flushed them out.

“We’ve had extended rain periods and that will be flooding them out of their lairs,” he said.  “They wander around looking for a new place to reside.”  

Mr Harvey, an AEPMA member said the average funnel-web grew to around 25-30mm in body length, but females were larger in size.

He advised residents never to touch them, and to immediately call pest control if one was spotted.  “Do not pick it up,” he said. “The best thing to do is call a pest controller to come and deal with it.”

Mr Harvey said to contact a pest controller even if you are unsure whether the spider is a funnel-web.  "Always assume the spider is dangerous,” he said.

To keep funnel-webs out of the home, Mr Harvey advised checking door seals to make sure there are no entry points.  

“Fit tight-fitting door seals to all external doors and that way they can’t come into the house,” he said.“Never leave shoes outside the house, and if you’re doing gardening you should be wearing strong shoes and strong gloves.”

Mr Harvey said funnel-webs often hide in the garden under rocks and plants, so avoid using hands to pick up or turn over objects in the garden.

Article and Images edited from The Daily Telegraph – Hills edition (10 August 2015)

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