Funnel Web Spiders live in burrows in sheltered positions in the ground, or in stumps, tree trunks or ferns above the ground. Their burrows are lined with a sock of opaque white silk and several strong strands of silk radiating from the entrance.
Females can live very long lives, possibly up to 20 years. They are rarely seen except during tree felling, excavation or landscaping work. Female Funnel Web Spiders are sedentary and spend their entire lives inside the burrow, only venturing out momentarily to grab passing prey. Funnel Web Spider prey consists of insects and small vertebrates such as lizards and frogs.
Young Funnel Web Spiders are raised inside the burrow. After the first couple of molts female Funnel Web Spiders leave the maternal burrow, dispersing on foot to build their own burrow.
Juvenile male spiders remain in the burrow until their final adult molt. Males mature at 2 – 3 years then vacate the burrow in search of a mate.
Bites from Funnel Web Spiders have caused 13 deaths (seven in children). In all cases where the gender of the biting spider could be determined, it was found to be the male of the species. Most victims were young, ill or infirm.
