Advertisement

WATCH: 100 baby funnel web spiders scurry out of egg sack

New skin-crawling footage of 100 baby funnel web spiders emerging from their egg sack is what nightmares are made of for arachnophobes, but the clip has also been mesmerising for those with the nerve to watch it.

The Australian Reptile Park shared the incredible footage of the young spiders’ first steps beyond the sack to its Facebook page on Sunday with the caption: "Baby funnel web spiders coming out of an egg sack is the stuff of some people’s nightmares - but we love them."

In the clip, a spider expert slices open the sack with a scalpel, allowing the tiny creepy crawlies to scatter out.

The sack containing 100 baby spiders is ready to hatch. Source: Australian Reptile Park
The sack containing 100 baby spiders is ready to hatch. Source: Australian Reptile Park

The funnel web is one of the world’s most venomous species of spider, and can kill humans with a single bite, however they don't begin to produce venom until they are four years old.

The NSW park has established an antivenom program so spiderlings - like those in the video - can be raised to be milked once they become adults, to help save human lives.

“The Australian Reptile Park is the only place in Australia that milks funnel web spider venom to make into antivenom,” said head of reptiles, Daniel Rumsey.

The sack is carefully split open as the tiny funnel webs scramble out. Source: Australian Reptile Park
The sack is carefully split open as the tiny funnel webs scramble out. Source: Australian Reptile Park

“Before the antivenom was developed 33 years ago, there were 13 recorded deaths in NSW by funnel webs, but there has been zero fatalities since the development of the antivenom in 1981.”

The egg sack was handed in to The Australian Reptile Park by a member of the public especially for the program.

A full-grown adult funnel web is one of the world most venomous species of spider. Source: Australian Reptile Park
A full-grown adult funnel web is one of the world most venomous species of spider. Source: Australian Reptile Park

“Summer is funnel web season, so now is the time people will be seeing funnel webs more and more” noted Rumsey, “we need to public to assist us with bringing funnel web spiders to The Australian Reptile Park,” Mr Rumsey said,

“If you are an adult and feel safe to do so, please catch the funnel webs using a big glass jar and keeping your hands away from the spider, coax the spider into the jar and bring it to us or one of our drop-off points – you will literally be helping us save lives.”

If a member of the public was to be bitten by a funnel web spider, Mr Rumsey advised to stay as calm as possible and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage and get to hospital immediately.

The clip has been viewed more than 500,000 times in less than 48 hours since the park shared it on Facebook on Sunday.