Giant spiders

[Morrisette]

*shudder* Last night the BIGGEST spider I have ever seen was lurking on my fireplace. It was big, black, hairy and had the usual unnecessary amount of legs. Mr M removed it using the glass-and-card technique and it's legs were TOO BIG to fit in a PINT GLASS . I reckon the body was 1.5 inches long and the legs about 4 inches end to end. Also when he got the beast into the glass it tried to go for him and we could hear the legs scrabbling on the glass. It was seriously huge and nasty-looking, and in no way looked 'more scared of me than I was of it'. I wonder should I have reported it to someone (not sure who....council pest control? London Zoo????)? Has anyone else seen one like this? Do we have spiders this big native to the UK? I know it's the spidery time of year, but this one was HUGE.

 

[red_tom]

I think the biggest spider in the UK is the cardinal. It's body goes up to around 2cm long.

 

[red_tom]

Here's a picture of one.

 

[wafflycat]

One of these?

 

[4F]

I think the biggest spider in the UK is the cardinal. It's body goes up to around 2cm long.

Hmm think you need to read this ........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7573530.stm

 

[Keith Oates]

When I was working in Paris I had an apartment that was at the top of the building in what could be termed the attic. I had no bed as I used to sleep on the floor (from Choice) in those days. One cold winter morning I woke up and threw back the bed clothes and this huge black spider ran out and across the room. It must have slept with me to keep warm but since then I've not been so afraid of them although they are still not my favorites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wafflycat]

I don't mind spiders. Spiders eat the stuff you don't want around.

 

[Morrisette]

Hmmmnnn no it wasn't like Wafflycat's or Red tom's.....more like an extra large harvest spider.......not sure how big they can get though...a lot of spider websites only measure the body of the spider, which I would say isn't the main thing you are looking at as it scuttles towards you on EIGHT HUGE LEGS....

I've seen those with a tiny body and stupidly long spindly legs though....can't say I like those much either!

 

[4F]

I don't mind spiders. Spiders eat the stuff you don't want around.

Hmmmm, recently had a batch of black widows found in a container from Australia being unloaded in Felixstowe. It won't be long until we have something distinctly unpleasant making itself a resident of the UK and I am not talking about Abul Hamza

 

[Morrisette]

Hmmmm, recently had a batch of black widows found in a container from Australia being unloaded in Felixstowe. It won't be long until we have something distinctly unpleasant making itself a resident of the UK and I am not talking about Abul Hamza

Don't tell me things like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wafflycat]

One of these?

 

[Fnaar]

 

[just jim]

I don't mind spiders. Spiders eat the stuff you don't want around.

I've got this old 19" CRT monitor lying around - think they'll have a go?

 

[Morrisette]

One of these?

Not sure....it was more black coloured than that, didn't see any mottled colouring on it.....is that some kind of deadly spider-beast from the jungle by any chance???

 

[wafflycat]

No, that's a bog-standard house spider

Mind you, they can be six inches across on a good year...