I have a strange relationship with spiders. On one hand, I really hate them. When we once had a false widow in our bedroom, I moved our bed, upturned cupboards, and wore rubber gloves for protection. After multiple failed attempts to get rid of the spider, including catching it with a glass and then panicking so it fell on me, which led to a considerable amount of squealing, jumping & flapping… my wife had to valiantly step in to dispose of it.
For reference, false widow spiders are really spidery spiders, with what looks like a skull on their backs. My friend, Lotte, was bitten by one, developed sepsis, lost part of her finger, and nearly died as a result. Thankfully, she survived the ordeal and is now okay.
BUT, on the other hand, when spiders are at a safe distance outdoors, I find myself captivated with their appearance and behaviour. So, I was fascinated to read about how antivenom is made for funnel web spider bites in Australia.
The Sydney funnel web is one of Australia’s most dangerous spiders. The male of the species can kill humans with a potent neurotoxin within 15 minutes.[1] Fortunately, since the development of antivenom in 1981, there have been no further recorded deaths.[2]
The ongoing production of this antivenom is a remarkable process that involves spider milking. Trained experts use a pipette to extract venom from the spider’s fangs. This venom is then injected into rabbits in very small doses over a six-month period, allowing the animals to develop antibodies. These antibodies are subsequently collected and used to produce antivenom for human use.[3]
Male funnel web spiders have a short lifespan, and it takes around 150 spiders to create a single vial of antivenom. Because of this, the Australian Reptile Park has previously appealed to the public to donate Sydney funnel web spiders or egg sacs, providing guidance on how to capture them safely.[4] Based on my own past experiences, however, I think I’ll leave the spider catching to braver people.
If you’d like to watch my discussion with my friend Lotte about her near-death experience after encountering a false widow spider at home, and how she overcame her subsequent health anxiety, you should head over to YouTube: https://youtu.be/CmycGhndyic
👋 For the new joiners: I’m Suraj, also known as Dr Sooj - a primary care doctor & health content creator. I love navigating the complex world of health and wellness and breaking down complicated concepts.
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References:
[1] University of Melbourne. Funnel-web spider (Atrax, Hadronyche sp.) [Internet]. Parkville (VIC): University of Melbourne; [cited 2025 Dec 15]. Available from: https://biomedicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/departments/department-of-biochemistry-and-pharmacology/engage/avru/discover/spiders/funnel-web-spiders-atrax-robustus-and-hadronyche-sp
[2] Sutherland SK. Antivenom to the venom of the male Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus: preliminary report. Med J Aust. 1980 Oct 18;2(8):437-41. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1980.tb131913.x. PMID: 7207323.
[3] Australian Reptile Park. Spider Venom Program [Internet]. Somersby (NSW): Australian Reptile Park; [cited 2025 Dec 15]. Available from: https://www.reptilepark.com.au/about/venom-program/spider-venom-program
[4] Caitlin C. ‘Learn how to safely catch funnel-webs’: Sydneysiders tasked with hunt for venom as spiders’ breeding season begins. The Guardian [Internet]. 2024 Nov 15 [cited 2025 Dec 15]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/15/australia-sydney-funnel-web-spider-season-reptile-park-callout