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Greetings DH!

A mate of mine in Sydney is a recognized expert on Funnelweb Spiders, and has helped to classify a number of sub-species. Self-educated: when he’s not chasing spiders he’s a chippie who likes to surf and go fishing.

That sounds like the life to me, with the possible exception of chasing spiders, lol

The male of the species is particularly aggressive during mating season.

Aren't we all? LOL

Here in Auckand we have a Tunnelweb Spider: it too is aggressive, with a nasty bite, but non-toxic to humans.

My Gawd, I Google'd up some images of that brute, and it might be non-toxic, but I'll bet it can scare someone to death! Yow!

So long time no hear FRiend, how have you been doing?

Best,

MKJ ;)

> My Gawd, I Google’d up some images of that brute, and it might be non-toxic, but I’ll bet it can scare someone to death! Yow!

I’ve got one right in front of me now, actually — she’s a big Tunnelweb, shiny black and very “muscular-looking”, if that makes any sense at all. Very powerful animal, this spider.

I was bitten by one a couple years ago. It was its last dying act of defiance, having hidden in one of my Patrol boots just when I needed to put them on. The bite felt like a hornet sting and I swore a lot and my foot smarted mightily for half a week — so while they aren’t venomous to humans their toxins aren’t merely there for decoration.

There is only one native spider in NZ that is poisonous: the Katipo. It lives in the scrub near sand dunes and is very rare: it would be a rare privilege to get bitten by one. While they are poisonous, they are like Pacific Coast Rattlesnakes in that their venom isn’t often fatal to humans.

We do get the occasional redback spider from Australia as well: it is alot like the Black Widow that you have over there.