Let's talk about the funnel web spider, one of the most notorious arachnids in the world. Known for their fast-acting venom, funnel web spiders are both fascinating and intimidating. The family of Australian funnel web spiders includes the Sydney funnel web spider (Atrax robustus), a species with venom so toxic that it's made headlines worldwide. Those sharp, scary-looking appendages aren't fangs; they're mating spurs that only males possess. Is the Funnel Web Spider Dangerous? Where Are Funnel Web Spiders Commonly Found? What Attracts and Deters Funnel Web Spiders? Funnel web spiders are medium to large spiders, with body lengths ranging from 0.4 to 2 inches (1 to 5 centimeters), depending on the species. It has a glossy black or dark brown body, with a sturdy, robust appearance. Male spiders can be distinguished by a large mating spur projecting from their second pair of legs, a feature not found on females.

They are sometimes confused with mouse spiders, which are also (mostly) shiny black spiders with large fangs, but mouse spiders lack the distinctive funnel-shaped web. Australian funnel web spiders, particularly the Sydney funnel web spider, are considered some of the most venomous spiders in the world. Their venom appears to be highly toxic to humans and primates, though not to most other animals. Funnel web bites can cause severe symptoms, including pain, muscle spasms and difficulty breathing. Thank goodness for modern antivenom! However, these spiders are generally not aggressive unless threatened, so bites are uncommon and often occur when a spider feels cornered. Funnel web spiders are native to eastern Australia, with several species distributed across New South Wales, Victoria and parts of South Australia. Sydney funnel webs, as their name suggests, are commonly found in and around Sydney. Northern New South Wales is another hot spot for these spiders. Funnel web spiders often create burrows in moist, shaded environments like under rocks, rotting logs or leaf litter. During hot, dry weather, male spiders may wander into homes or even fall into swimming pools, where they can survive underwater for hours by trapping air around their bodies. What Attracts and Deters Funnel Web Spiders? Funnel web spiders are attracted to environments with high humidity, shelter and access to prey. Shady gardens, dense vegetation and piles of debris make excellent habitats for these spiders. They also gravitate toward areas with toxic plants or rotting logs, where insects - an essential part of their diet - are plentiful. Spider donations to antivenom programs, where experts safely collect spiders for venom research, can also help manage populations in a controlled way. We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

If you’re serious about weightlifting, you’ve probably heard the term "progressive overload" before. But what exactly islve increasing your weight, adding more reps or sets, or changing your exercises to target different muscle groups. What are the types of progressive overload? Here, we divide them into weight, volume, and intensity progressions. One type of progressive overload is weight progression. This involves gradually increasing the amount of weight you lift over time. For example, if you are doing a bench press, you start with one hundred pounds and then gradually increase the weight to 110 pounds, 120 pounds, and so on. Increasing the weight forces your muscles to adapt to the new stress, which leads to gains in strength and muscle mass. Another type of progressive overload is volume progression. This involves gradually increasing the total amount of work you do over time. You can do this by increasing the number of sets, reps, or exercises you do in a given workout. For example, with bicep curls, you might start with three sets of ten reps and then gradually increase to four sets of twelve reps, five sets of fifteen reps, and gsa9game.net so on.