The Andalucia Funnelweb Spider

[hiker]

I run walks and hikes in Frigiliana and over the last couple of years I have begun to understand the environment I work in and the flora and fauna too.

In the last few weeks I have noticed a large increase in the number of Funnel Web Spiders along my routes in the hills. These spiders are one of the largest European spider and are protect by an EU directive.
They are very aggressive, jet black in appearance and can grow up to 8cm long.

Having just passed the worst of the Processionary Caterpillar threat, we now face this little beastie in the hills.

If you are out and about the mountains, keep a special eye open for this lad. They give a nasty bite that is poisonous and will require a Doctors treatment.

I'll post a link to a website that has a little more detail to it.
http://www.wildsideholidays.com/natural ... pider.html

[El Cid]

As it says on the site it is basically a poisonous Tarantula spider.

Be very carefull. We have seen their nests in our garden.

Sid

[gerryh]

I understand they are a protected species. If my wife saw one it would get squashed immediately, assuming she hadn't fainted first.
How can they be encouraged to move away to somewhere far from us?
Cheers
Gerry

[wildside]

Hi Guys..

Basically to get them away from your house area you need to get rid of their habitat.... Log piles, piles of rocks etc etc.... Nooks and crannies are their best friends

Glad you liked the article at wildside

[chrissiehope]

I saw this thread just before we went out to Spain, and followed the link out of curiosity.

Got to our casa, and 'unpacking' outdoor furniture, including lifting a big table off bricks. To my amazement (& slight horror !) there, in one of the brick holes, was a perfect funnel web



When my son arrived (28 going on 8 !!) he thoroughly searched around the terrace area, and found loads more. We never saw an actual spider that we could identify as a funnelweb, tho found quite a few little black-ish ones - maybe 'babies' ?

At least we then knew to always wear gloves when moving bricks, logs etc

So thanks for the headsup, wildside

[probe]

In the campo at the moment there are loads of them. If you look closely you can almost always see them sitting at the bottom of the funnel waiting for the next meal. It would be very easy to walk through one wearing shorts!!!