Males often have a ventral spur or swelling midway along the second leg which is pointed in Atrax and blunt or absent in Hadronyche . Spinnerets usually obvious, finger-like and at the end of the abdomen. The eyes of funnel-webs are closely grouped. Bite Bites are most prevalent during summer and autumn when males leave the burrows in search of females. Bites are dangerous and can cause serious illness or death.
Male venom is sometimes more toxic than female venom.
Initial symptoms after a bite include local pain, mouth numbness, vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating and salivation. Antivenene is available and no deaths have occurred since its introduction. See our News Flash about Funnel-web Spider venom. First Aid People are usually bitten on a limb. Immediate action should be taken to apply a pressure bandage and immobilise the bitten limb using a splint.