Wandering Spider by robv

Wandering Spider

This is a relative of the notorious poisonous Wandering Spider of Brazil, it also hitches rides on banana shipments. This was turned in to my work place for identification, it was reassuring to all concerned to find it was not especially toxic to humans. Cupiennius chiapanensis, family Ctenidae. The nasty guys are the genus Phoneutria, who share the red hairs on the "jaws"(chelae). Important safety tip, if it has these red chelae then best leave it alone.
Fantastic closeup
April 5th, 2011  
a great example of why bananas are $13/kilo ($6/lb) in australia now, we don't import because of hitchikers.

excellent photo! Love the red.
April 5th, 2011  
Was the shipment turned away because of this guy? Great shot, love the red "mouth" & the detail.
April 5th, 2011  
Good to know- red hairy mouth= avoid. Noted.
April 5th, 2011  
Awesome. Looks like bloody walrus tusks.
April 5th, 2011  
Amazing detail once again! From your commentary I'm beginning to understand now how you have such incredible knowledge. How interesting. :-)
April 5th, 2011  
Great close-up but I am grimacing at the same time as I do NOT like spiders!
April 5th, 2011  
Fantastic macro of this guy! Amazing detail - look at all those eyes watching you! How big was he?
April 5th, 2011  
Wow...I sure wouldn't want to find him on my banana! LOL!
April 5th, 2011  
@alia_801 Leg spread was a bit over 8cm.
April 5th, 2011  
What an amazing macro, but I think this is sooooooo scary, i can hardly take a good look at it! So interesting, but almost to detailed for me, stuff for nightmares...
April 5th, 2011  
@robv Wow! Quite an impressive beastie from the sounds (and look) of it.
April 5th, 2011  
Terrific (and scary) macro. We once found what looked like a dried up tarantula in our bananas, but maybe it was something like this. Yuk!
April 5th, 2011  
Stunning capture. It's amazing to see the close up.
April 5th, 2011  
OMG... please never let me get that close to one of them!!! Great shot, but better you than me!!!
April 5th, 2011  
Oh that really is scary, believe me I wouldn't go near that thing, quite happy to look at your picture of it....from a distance.
April 5th, 2011  
OMG, awesome find and shot! This photo gives me goosebumps! ;-)
April 5th, 2011  
wow what a shot...creepy but cool!!
April 6th, 2011  
Yikes?!?! That's a face only a mother could love.
April 6th, 2011  
ok, this one is a little creepy, but I can say I admire your artistry in photographing it!
April 7th, 2011  
Wow--he's just awesome!!!
April 7th, 2011  
wow stunning....I can see each and every teeny hair!!
April 8th, 2011  
Fabulous close up.
April 30th, 2011  
8cm... let's see... that's... shoes off...
OMG! That's 3 inches! Run away! ;o)

Two relatives' houses here in Missouri are over run by brown recluse, as are most of the lake houses I've rented around here. I think I've positively ID'd them using a microscope to count the eyes (6, and really, really scary looking under magnification), no leg spines, no leg banding, the classic fiddle back, smooth monotone medium-light brown color, but...

I later learned that not all brown recluse have that horrid necrotic venom. Is there a place one can send a spider to get a positive ID, as a public service? Hint, hint... ;o)

BTW, it's hard to imagine anyone needing to be told to avoid that monster. ;o)
May 2nd, 2011  
@heidi I know a researcher who has been debunking some of the Brown Recluse misinformation floating around the medical community. He had a family sending him trapped specimens from their home, especially high numbers in sticky traps in the attic. Over 1,000 specimens in a year and no bites on any family members(5 household members). The last I read some people react with necrotizing fascitis but many have no, or minimal, reaction to the venom. If you want confirmation of your identification I can provide my address and let you know what you're dealing with.
May 2nd, 2011  
@robv I would appreciate a confirmation ID. I'd need to wrangle a spider. Not sure how to communicate with you on 365. You can email me at heidipoodle@gmail.com if you'd like. I'm assuming you may not want to post addresses publicly. Any other suggestions?
May 3rd, 2011  
Oh my goodness...not sure how I missed this one. Great shot!
May 25th, 2011  
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