FloraHolland employee discovers poisonous spider in a bunch of flowers
Scare gripped the Floraholland auction in Rijnsburg recently after one of the employees discovered a ten centimeter large spider hidden inside a bunch of flowers. The creature was quickly caught by Floraholland workers and released outside.
Moments later, real worry, mixed with media frenzy, emerged when residents living around the South Holland town of Rijnsburg caught word that a venomous Brazilian wandering spider was crawling in their midst. The spider even became a trending topic on Twitter in no time.
Wandering spiders, also known as Ctenids, are quite aggressive in nature and carry venom that can cause fatality in human beings. For example, a single poisonous bite from a Ctenidae genus known as Phoneutria can cause death within six hours if the victim is not attended to in good time.
The situation was however relaxed with reassurances from experts from Serpo Reptile Centre who said a bite from the spider can only cause a swelling and could not be any worse than a wasp sting. “It is however advisable to seek immediate medical attention in case of a bite,” said Walter Getreuer of the reptile center.
Some random Facts about the Brazilian Wandering Spider
- Brazilian wandering spiders are large, with bodies reaching up to 2 inches (5 cm) and leg spans reaching about 6 inches (15 cm).
- The species vary in color, though all are hairy, mostly brown and may have a black spot on their bellies.
- Their bites are a means of self-defense and only done if they are provoked intentionally or by accident
- After a human is bitten by one of these spiders, he or she may experience initial symptoms such as severe burning pain at the site of the bite, sweating and goose bumps
