Some Spiders can Bite!

There are also spiders that give a nasty bite comparable to the stinging of a wasp. Most of the venom injected with these bites causes cell death and gives rise to a wound that does not heal properly and becomes easily infected. There is spider on Fraser Island in Queensland that is called by the locals the Fraser Island funnel web. I saw someone recently who had been bitten on the leg by one of these spiders, and it was a horrific wound. However, new research has suggested that some cancer, fungal and bacterial infections may have been misdiagnosed as whitetail spider bites.

While there is no doubt a few of our native spiders are very dangerous, the vast majority are not. Spiders feed mostly on insects, and are an essential part of our ecosystem. While they reduce insect numbers that may otherwise cause problems to humans, they also provide food for many other species. Unfortunately some pest control companies have demonised the spider, and created an unwarranted fear, or arachnephobia, in the community.