And the Hunter is the most to blame, with the 100 callouts for treatment for the year ending August 31 the highest of any regional area across NSW.

It was 13 callouts more than for the year previous, and occurred before Hunter paramedics were called to another 13 spider bites and four snake bites in October alone.

It involved five nasty incidents in two days, including a 14-year-old youth being bitten on the foot by a brown snake as well as spider bites at Glendale and Wallsend.

The spike, which coincides with increased spider and snake activity as the weather warms, has prompted the warning from emergency services.

 “Around the home, remove piled up debris from the yard and keep lawns mowed to reduce the potential for unexpected visitors,” said Inspector John Brotherhood, of Ambulance Service of NSW.

“Check items of clothing that have been left outside before wearing them.

“Paramedics attend many cases where people have put on boots and gloves and been bitten by spiders and even snakes which were hidden inside.

“Also, if you lift something such as a rock or log, lift it with it facing away from you.’’

Inspector Brotherhood said paramedics had attended 727 incidents across NSW involving spiders and snakes in the year ending August 31.

It included 45 patients with suspected funnel web spider bites and 215 with suspected snake bites.

Last month, people reported being bitten by a spider at places including Blackalls Park, Elermore Vale, Karuah, Ashtonfield, Glendale, Wallsend, Edgeworth and Tenambit.

As well as the boy bitten at Greta, snakes are believed to have bitten people at Booragul, Pokolbin and Hallidays Point.

A man was also bitten by a death adder inside his back shed at Muswellbrook last month and had to be flown by Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter to Calvary Mater Hospital at Waratah for specialist treatment.