Effective pest management... ..with skill and care from people you can trust
Related Interest
– ERIN (Environment Australia Online) is one of the resources we commonly use when we answer questions about Australian Environments, Biodiversity and Endangered Species. Many sections contain detailed information on projects and studies carried out by Environment Australia.
– CSIRO Spiders Identification and Advice Service
Although most spiders possess venom glands connected to their fangs, the vast majority are harmless to humans. Either their venom is not toxic or their fangs are too small to effectively pierce the skin, or both. However, in NSW there are a number of larger spiders that can bite painfully. Some of these produce serious symptoms, and two are dangerous – the funnelweb and the redback.
As is the case with snakes, many people are bitten when they try to kill or remove a spider that might better have been left alone. Spider bite can usually be avoided by taking a few simple precautions. Outdoors or in a shed or garage, look before you put your fingers in or under an object, especially if it has been in place for some time. Shake out boots and shoes. Firewood can harbour funnelweb spiders, scorpions and centipedes. Gloves give some protection, although they can be easily pierced by large fangs. Dangerous spiders seldom enter Sydney homes, but white-tailed spiders hide in clothes on the floor or bedding, and huntsmen spiders in curtain folds. FIRST AID – spiders
Antivenom – Funnelweb Spider Bites
Ant Eater Environmental Services has become an approved collection point for funnelweb spiders – we pass the spiders onto the Australian Reptile Park for the production of antivenom – the Reptile Park is always needing more spiders for their programme.
Please make use of our services – the Australian Reptile Park needs your support. General Info on Australian Spiders
The Australian Reptile Park
Today, the production of the antivenom requires copious amounts of funnelweb venom and the Reptile Park is the sole producer of that venom. There is always a requirement for male Sydney funnel-web spiders at the Park, and local residents are depended upon to provide spiders for identification and possible inclusion in the venom extraction program.
'Possums in the roof' – NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service
All there is to know about possums and how to co-exist with them. Also loads of other information about our parks and the creatures that live in the parks.
The Bug Club is a club devoted to young people and the "Young at heart" who find insects and other creepy crawlies interesting and even fascinating.
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