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spiders on bananas

by Andreane Gutmann MD Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

By far the commonest banana spider in this sense is the huntsman spider, Heteropoda venatoria (below, with eggs). The name is also used for any other tropical spider found in banana shipments.

Full Answer

What kind of spiders are on bananas?

The banana spiders are also known by other names, including:

  • Calico Spider
  • Writing Spider
  • Silk Orb-Weaver Spider
  • The Hawaiian Garden Spiders

How deadly is a banana spider?

  • Heavy sweating
  • Swelling of bite site and rash
  • Burning sensation
  • Pain that spread to other areas
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Paleness
  • Blurred vision
  • Involuntary muscle contractions
  • Vomiting
  • Increased blood pressure

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What kind of spider is found in bananas?

They include:

  • Hunting spider ( Cupiennius)
  • Golden silk orb-weaver ( Nephila)
  • Hawaiian garden spider ( Argiope appensa)
  • Golden silk-orb weaver ( Trichonephila clavipes)
  • Brazilian wandering spider ( Phoneutria)

Are banana spider venomous and whether they bite people?

The banana spiders in this post all contain venom, but most of them are not harmful to humans except for redness and a stinging feeling at the bite location. The only banana spider you should be concerned about is the Brazilian wandering spider ( Phoneutria) which can be harmful and possibly fatal to humans.

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Are spiders in bananas poisonous?

Most banana spiders are not dangerous to humans. The Brazilian wandering spider is more venemous than others, but it rarely appears in international shipments. Spiders typically don't bite humans unless held or threatened. A bite from any type of banana spider may cause pain or irritation, but it's not usually deadly.

Do spiders come to UK on on bananas?

FRUIT may do wonders for your health - but for these unlucky customers tucking into a banana was nearly a deadly mistake. The snack can be the perfect hiding spot for killer spiders such as false widows, which lay their eggs inside before being transported to the UK and sold to unsuspecting British shoppers.

What kind of spiders get in bananas?

The main ones are the pantropical huntsman spiders (Heteropoda venatoria)—big, leggy beasts, very attractive—they're the ones with the white moustache. They're found all over the world in tropical areas. Ecuador is where they're coming from in bananas a lot. And the red-faced banana spider (Cupiennius chiapanensis).

How rare are spiders in bananas?

Spiders of medical importance in imported bananas are extremely rare. The only ones that have come into this country are called Brazilian wandering spiders (also called banana spiders, or Phoneutria). These are black, hairy spiders, and they can be large, with leg spans up to 2½ inches wide.

Are spiders attracted to bananas?

The most common spider species that are found in bananas are Brazilian wandering spiders, which are particularly known for their liking of bananas. These spiders often seek refuge in bananas, where they can hide from other animals as they seek shelter in bananas and other fruits.

How do spiders get inside bananas?

There is simply no chance for spider eggs to get into a banana. Nor would a species that did this survive long, since spiderlings in an uneaten banana could never escape. Not that eating spider eggs would cause any harm even if this fantasy were true! This myth has already spawned variations.

Do organic bananas have spiders?

But Matt Shardlow, chief executive of invertebrate protection charity Buglife, says: 'People don't need to worry about finding spider eggs on bananas. The spiderlings would have to be an awful lot bigger to pose any threat. 'In their native environment, hardly any survive to adulthood; in Britain they've got no chance.

How do you get rid of banana spiders?

1:252:11How to Control Banana Spiders - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAway use a bug killer or spider spray on the outside of your home and around all windows and doorMoreAway use a bug killer or spider spray on the outside of your home and around all windows and door cracks inside of your home the spray will keep spiders.

What do you do if you find spider eggs on a banana?

"If you do find eggs on your bananas, the best thing to do is wash them off, if you are really worried you could put them in the freezer to kill them - then enjoy your banana!"

Can spider eggs hatch inside human body?

Everyone has heard that myth that spiders can lay eggs under your skin. Well, rest easy, because spiders cannot, in fact, do that. However, don't rest too easy, because there are some creepy insects that lay their eggs in human bodies.

Do bananas have bugs in them?

Banana weevils are popularly known as banana borers. As this name suggests, they attack the plant by boring through the stem and causing untold damage to the plant tissues. Acute infestations by banana weevils usually lead to weakening of the plant and ultimately its death.

Deadly Banana Spiders !!!!!!!!! Or not

Every once in a while in North America, a large spider (or a spider egg sac) is found in international cargo, most commonly in bananas. The spider is collected and taken to a local “authority” who typically has no arachnological experience.

Cupiennius spiders

These are the spiders that are most frequently mistaken as Phoneutria spiders. They are large, found in banana shipments and one species, Cupiennius chiapanensis, has bright red hairs on its chelicerae. One major contributing factor to the confusion is that C.

Summary for the entire page so far

If you have a large spider found in bananas from a country in Central America, it is most probably going to be a harmless species of the genus Cupiennius.

Banana Spider Size

The female banana spiders can reach between 4.5 and 5.3 cm in length while the male spider is normally two-third shorter than the female counterpart. The length they attain is however not inclusive of leg span. The species found in Taiwan are known to exceed the 5.3cm length, with leg span included.

Pictures of what Banana Spider looks like

Following are images and appearance description of both the female and male golden silk spiders.

Do Banana Spiders Bite Humans or Pets?

Banana spiders can bite human beings and pets when they feel provoked but, in most situations, they flee when confronted. Their bite will irritate your skin but their bites are never dangerous. The bite along with the side effects often disappears in 24 hours.

Banana Spider Webs

The banana spiders generate asymmetric orb webs that are large. The webs can measure up to 5 feet in diameter. The spiders often remain in these webs so they have a high risk of being spotted by predators. The golden silk orb-weaver produces yellow-colored silk, that it uses to construct these webs.

Importance of the Banana Spider Silk

The banana spiders have value due to the silk they produce. The silk is long-lasting and has a unique yellow color. Researchers have put a lot of effort into trying to manufacture garments from this silk, however, no method is commercially viable.

Banana Spider Eggs

Female banana spiders usually generate an egg sac around the web that serves to protect the eggs they lay. The females lay their eggs on a silk platform then the eggs are later covered using loose silk, thus forming a sack.

More Interesting Banana Spider Facts

The spider has various names but the most distinct feature that makes it stand out is its web that appears golden. Its web is made out of the one of the strongest materials known to man. In some parts of the world it used for making fishing nets and robes

2. Where Does the Question Come From?

It turns out that the question comes from people seeing the egg sac of a spider sitting on a banana.

3. The Spider Egg Sac and a Banana

If you look online, you will come across images of a spider covering its egg sac in silk to protect it, and this is on the surface of a banana. [ Source]

5. The Egg Sac is Harmless to Us

So, what do you do if you find a banana with a spider egg sac on it? Well, the quick answer is that you simply wipe it away. It’s not harmful to us if we touch it, but you clearly don’t want to be eating it.

6. The Banana Industry Actually Checks

As a quick sidenote, the banana industry is supposed to check the bananas before they get shipped out, in order to remove any signs of spiders.

So, the Answer is an Emphatic No

As you can see, the answer to this question (‘Do spiders lay eggs in bananas?’) is an emphatic no, and it’s all just a myth that is brought up by people time and time again. It’s just not possible, or plausible, for a spider to be able to do this.

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