About me

I am a member of the genus of spiders known colloquially as funnel web spiders. I am one of a small number of spiders in North America whose bites are generally considered to be medically significant. I construct a funnel-shaped structure of silk sheeting and lie in wait at the small end of the funnel for prey insects to blunder onto my web. I sometimes build my web in or around human habitations. Although I have a reputation for aggressiveness, I will normally avoid contact with humans. Most bites occur when I am accidentally crushed or squeezed by a human. My venom is strong enough to cause considerable local pain and has been reported to sometimes cause tissue death (necrosis) at and near the bite.