Still Waters Posted May 28, 2017 #1 Share Posted May 28, 2017 One of the world's largest spiders has been discovered in southern England. Startled residents contacted the RSPCA after discovering a Huntsman spider the size of a man's hand on the wall of a house in Sevenoaks, Kent. The spiders are not indigenous to the UK – they are usually found in Asia, Africa and Latin America – and it is unknown how this one got to Kent. RSPCA animal collection officer Louis Horton attended the house after initially thinking the call was a joke. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/monster-huntsman-spider-apos-nasty-153705797.html 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Future ghost Posted May 28, 2017 #2 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Ok, time to move. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted May 29, 2017 #3 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Good luck guys!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandsomeGorilla Posted May 29, 2017 #4 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Probably came in on an exotic fruit or plant shipment, not uncommon. That's how they became established in some parts of the Southeast US. "Huntsman spiders can give a nasty bite..." Actually, no. Huntsman spiders, despite their size, have weak venom. I've never, ever heard of any serious envenomation from a Huntsman. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luca-RoseElsie-Raemom1921 Posted May 29, 2017 #5 Share Posted May 29, 2017 10 minutes ago, Not Your Huckleberry said: Probably came in on an exotic fruit or plant shipment, not uncommon. That's how they became established in some parts of the Southeast US. "Huntsman spiders can give a nasty bite..." Actually, no. Huntsman spiders, despite their size, have weak venom. I've never, ever heard of any serious envenomation from a Huntsman. My sisters ex (the father in law spilt from my sisters husbands mom) step father in law got bit. His was bad but that was due to a reaction to the venom. One of my nieces (2nd oldest she was 12 at the time is now 26) got bit by one and was fine, just sore from the bite. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandsomeGorilla Posted May 29, 2017 #6 Share Posted May 29, 2017 That's interesting, are they sure it was a Huntsman? Not doubting you, just genuinely curious as I'm still not aware of any bite from them that resulted in any serious symptoms. Could've been secondary infection is what I'm guessing. Some folks can be a little more sensitive than others, but the peptide chains in spider venom are too short to induce a true allergic reaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlitterRose Posted May 29, 2017 #7 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Wait...you can call animal control to remove a spider? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Future ghost Posted May 29, 2017 #8 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Just now, ChaosRose said: Wait...you can call animal control to remove a spider? Probably only when they're the size of a small dog. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nuclear Wessel Posted May 29, 2017 #9 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Pretty sure that entire garden would have been engulfed in flames shortly thereafter if it were me. And the house. And the neighbourhood. Nope, nope. NOPE. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echoes Posted May 29, 2017 #10 Share Posted May 29, 2017 I am gonna need a bigger book... hmm... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinlea Posted May 29, 2017 #11 Share Posted May 29, 2017 I had one in my bedroom once, lucky enough I saw and got rid of it before I went to bed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldorado Posted May 29, 2017 #12 Share Posted May 29, 2017 1 hour ago, kevinlea said: I had one in my bedroom once, lucky enough I saw and got rid of it before I went to bed. Welcome back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unfortunately Posted May 30, 2017 #13 Share Posted May 30, 2017 17 hours ago, Not Your Huckleberry said: "Huntsman spiders can give a nasty bite..." Actually, no. Huntsman spiders, despite their size, have weak venom. I've never, ever heard of any serious envenomation from a Huntsman. I'm Aussie and we get these all over the place, it's one of the most commonly found spiders over here. I believe the nasty bite was referring to the pain as opposed to any venom. Frankly I wasn't aware they even had venom but it makes sense. They hurt like b*****y when you get bitten though -.- would not recommend. I just love how the initial sentence in the article said "huge" spider when it was only the size of a palm that's their normal size. The big ones are freaky, can be the size of a dinner plate and make you want to run for the hills . I assume they don't get many large spiders in the UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luca-RoseElsie-Raemom1921 Posted May 30, 2017 #14 Share Posted May 30, 2017 18 hours ago, Not Your Huckleberry said: That's interesting, are they sure it was a Huntsman? Not doubting you, just genuinely curious as I'm still not aware of any bite from them that resulted in any serious symptoms. Could've been secondary infection is what I'm guessing. Some folks can be a little more sensitive than others, but the peptide chains in spider venom are too short to induce a true allergic reaction. It was a Huntsman and it was a reaction not an infection, he went to hospital to get it all checked. People can have an allergic reaction to anything. He was fine after a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kie Posted May 31, 2017 #15 Share Posted May 31, 2017 On 5/29/2017 at 10:59 AM, Atomical said: I am gonna need a bigger book... hmm... Forget the book, use the whole bookcase. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin_Shadowes Posted May 31, 2017 #16 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Must remember to buy a flamethrower next. I hope I don't need licence for stuff like that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibeliever Posted May 31, 2017 #17 Share Posted May 31, 2017 On 5/29/2017 at 8:56 AM, ChaosRose said: Wait...you can call animal control to remove a spider? On 5/29/2017 at 9:17 AM, Future ghost said: Probably only when they're the size of a small dog. We have some good sized critters around here but if I saw one of those on my wall I'm pretty sure I'd call someone! Yikes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unfortunately Posted June 1, 2017 #18 Share Posted June 1, 2017 On 31/05/2017 at 6:54 AM, goodgodno said: When I lived in Oz i knew of many people who were happy for one or two huntsman to hang around their houses, due to the fact that they are relatively clean (non web spinning) and helped keep the more dangerous spiders like red backs at bay. Yeah keeping a few around definitely helps to get rid of the other nasties. Huntsmen are actually really docile spiders and only get antsy when cornered, unless it's a massive one that's when they're a bit unpredictable. I would much rather have an average-sized huntsman in my house (like the one described in the OP) than a redback, that's for sure. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibeliever Posted June 1, 2017 #19 Share Posted June 1, 2017 10 hours ago, Unfortunately said: Yeah keeping a few around definitely helps to get rid of the other nasties. Huntsmen are actually really docile spiders and only get antsy when cornered, unless it's a massive one that's when they're a bit unpredictable. I would much rather have an average-sized huntsman in my house (like the one described in the OP) than a redback, that's for sure. Cool. I guess if you live in a place where it's not unexpected, it wouldn't give you as much of a shock. It sounds like they're a bit like wolf spiders here. A bit alarming when you see one but they are good at pest control and aren't very venomous. When I see one I usually let it be. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt221 Posted June 1, 2017 #20 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Talking of huntsmen This blokes response or better still the little kids 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Posted June 1, 2017 #21 Share Posted June 1, 2017 On 05/30/2017 at 4:45 AM, Unfortunately said: I assume they don't get many large spiders in the UK? No we consider spiders larger than a golf ball to be a 'decent size'. We dont have ride-able arachnids. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt221 Posted June 2, 2017 #22 Share Posted June 2, 2017 We have ride in arachnids 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibeliever Posted June 2, 2017 #23 Share Posted June 2, 2017 5 hours ago, Matt221 said: We have ride in arachnids I want one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt221 Posted June 2, 2017 #24 Share Posted June 2, 2017 1 hour ago, Calibeliever said: I want one. Me to i was lucky enough to actually go on a John Deere dealership open day show casing all the're range and actually drove one really weird thing to operate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayelee Posted June 18, 2017 #25 Share Posted June 18, 2017 I'm in Australia,everyone here is familiar with the huntsman.they can be as big,or bigger than your WHOLE HAND.i am terrified of spiders,especialy the huntman as they can jump.you can also use a whole can of spray and it wont kill them.in summer I always keep my eye out for them,and have a mini heart attack when I see one.this past summer I came across 2female redbacks out in my back yard-1 was under my dogs' bowl.also found a male redback inside my mates shoe at his house,the shoe was in his wardrobe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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