Spider found amongst the Bananas

[foxy mars]

I work for a well known supermarket and whilst cleaning the offices, on the table in main office was a tub with a label that read "Please Feed me". Thinking it was a wind-up and a plastic spider in the plastic tub, but the spider moved. It was the biggest I've seen and one of the bosses said it was found in amongst the Bananas on the shop-floor and was to be collected for further investgation.

Somebody said these type of Spiders can bite and pretty nasty at that, but hey what a beauty. It was Black, big body and long legs. You don't see them like that in my house and don't think I would either.

What do their do to these Spiders, do their get a home or is their a zoo that collects them. I hate to think, it would be killed or put down to be mildly.

[ChrisR]

Not entirely sure but I am guessing that supermarkets must have a standard protocol for dealing with 'banana spiders' because they are fairly common imports. I know London Zoo used to get quite a lot sent to them but I'm not sure if this still happens - there's not a lot they can do with them anyway, especially if they are venomous, except kill them humanely. I bet a lot of the spiders are innocuous and safe to handle but you can get some real killers and the problem is that you'd need an expert to tell you which yours was. I'd be very cautious - just in case

[No.9 Spider]

Most likely to be Heteropoda venatoria, try googling it and see what you think, though thinking about it you're description doesn't quite fit for that. They are welcomed in the houses of their native countries as they keep pests down. They are very fast, be warned, but nice to keep. There are sometimes the odd Araneus type orb weaving species and also the odd Latrodectus species (widowsxexe so be cautious. A photo would be good.



No.9 Spider

[foxy mars]

Could be a Huntsman Spider, however the news at the supermarket, is that the RSPCA said it was a endangered type and was put in care for safe being.

I have simplier spiders in my house, the household type with small body and long wirely legs. I just let them roam at will, boy, can there run. I think spiders are wonderful and would never hurt one.

[No.9 Spider]

Heteropoda venatoria is a huntsman type though unlikely to be endangered in it's native country. They are not usually black as in your description more a mottled hue of grey/brown and black. It's also unlikely that the RSPCA would have a clue as to it's i.d. anyway IMO



No.9 Spider