If there’s one thing about Australia that tourists are wary of, it’s the spiders – and for good reason. Some of the most venomous spiders live Down Under, with an estimated 10,000 species inhabiting several ecosystems.

While that is already concerning enough, experts revealed that there will be an influx of huntsman spiders this summer, and they warned that these arachnids are bigger than ever before.



Arachnophobes across the country, prepare yourselves for (arguably) a nightmarish summer. Experts advise everyone to be on the lookout for a sudden influx of huntsman spiders, especially in South East Queensland.

According to scientists, warmer weather and the recent rainfall helped the spiders grow in numbers.

The combination of hot and wet weather also increased the number of prey they can, er, hunt (no pun intended), and it has created the ‘perfect breeding conditions’ for the creepy crawlers.


Dr Jeremy Wilson, an Arachnologist, told reporters: ‘Having lots of adult huntsmans out at the moment reflects on a good breeding season, that means the last year or two has provided the perfect weather conditions for breeding and prey abundance.’

He added that since there has been an abundance of food for the beasts, the huntsman spiders have grown bigger than ever.



Huntsmans are already a regular sighting for Queenslanders, but it doesn’t help that these kinds of spiders grow up to the size of a saucepan! For example, a gargantuan huntsman named Charlotte (who had around a 20 cm leg span) was rescued in 2016, and now lives on a farm.


But the good news is that these spiders aren’t dangerous. Sure, they’re venomous like most spiders, but there’s no real threat to humans.



Additionally, these animals eat pests like mosquitoes, flies, and sometimes even lizards. One spider was even captured carrying a dead mouse. If you want to watch that video, you can find it below:


Huntsman spiders don’t capture their prey in a web but they stalk them and run towards them with their stealth and speed. They can carry larger animals because of their powerful fangs, and once captured they hold them in place until their food is immobilised by their venom.

There’s no real cause for concern because these gentle giants don’t mean us any harm. According to the Australian Museum, most spiders do possess venom so the bite might cause negative effects. But the huntsman spider is not aggressive and most are ‘quite reluctant’ to bite.

‘They will usually try to run away rather than be aggressive.’



The one you want to worry about is the funnel-web spider whose numbers are also predicted to grow over the summer. They’re much more dangerous as their venom is extremely toxic – at least 13 Australians have died due to the fatal funnel-web spider’s bites.

An anti-venom was created in 1981 to prevent tragedies like that from happening again. Still, experts advise caution. The funnel-web spiders are mainly found on the east coast of Australia, usually in dense shrubbery or under logs or rocks.

They like to take a trip around gardens, and garages, or even make homes out of shoes. If bitten by one, apply a pressure immobilisation bandage and seek medical attention immediately.
Are you worried about seeing funnel-web spiders or huntsman this summer, members? Let us know in the comments and stay safe out there!