To be a bit freaked out by this banana ....

[SunshineHQ]

.... was just about to peel it, and then saw this weird cocoon thing growing on it.

Wider family all here, and opinions vary as to what it is ....

Lots of baby spiders? (100s)
Just one big spider?
Something else?

And what should we do? Dad (who lived for a year in Africa) thinks they will very likely be poisonous, and microwave or boiling water?

Poke it and see what happens!

Throw it into the sun

YANBU burn it!

I hate bananas. Bananas filled with killer spiders are even worse.

Put it in a sealed container with miniscule air holes and keep us posted? (please?!).

Put it in a plastic bag and seal it, take it back to the shop you got it from tomorrow. They will need to know so they can track it back.

My dad is about to boil it in a saucepan of water.

No one wants bananas and custard for pudding after all.

It looks very similar to this, a screenshot from a google image search. It says deadly on the caption!

Store it in the shed until an arachnophobia type situation develops.

Burn it now! Or what hula said.

That made me spit my brew out 😂😂😂

Poke it and see what it is?

Omfg! Wth is it!?!?!

What if it’s an undiscovered species and boiling them causes them to mutate into the size of Yorkshire Terriers? You don’t want them skuttling of your hob.

jesus....banana spiders!

don't you ever read the papers op! they are everywhere! and will kill you dead!

No don't boil it

It needs to go into a clear, sealed food bag and back to the shop. If this is a spider situation the retailer needs to know.

Ooh I'd have to find out! I'd pierce it with scissors then seal it in an airtight transparent tub or jar and watch! And drop the scissors in boiling water! Please keep us updated!

Dunno, looks like banana’s skin was damaged when you bought it and it is now growing mould. Especially as they’ve been around for a while going by the color and spots.
I dare you to peel it open and post a picture of what’s inside (my bets are on nothing sinister just gone off banana!)

Agree with putting it in a pot with air holes for observation purposes.

there are people who will gladly take this off you.

Don't kill them, it will make lovely pets for people of that ilk.

www.facebook.com/groups/BritishSpiderIdentification/

put it in a see through tupperware box and gaffa tape it shut (very important... MUST BE TAPED TO WITHIN AN INCH OF ITS LIFE) then sit back and watch ... update us at regular intervals, failure to check in will mean we all freak out thinking you've been bitten and died a horrible death

Waaaaaah, I clicked on Hawkmoth's link and now I have to burn my iphone

Please dissect after boiling and post what it is. I would most enjoy if you have pointlessly boiled a banana with a slight deformity as the thought of deadly banana spiders scares me a lot

On a serious note, check the rest of the bunch and the bag it was in for an adult spider. There was a similar case where an adult female Brazilian wandering spider came out of a bunch of bananas (that was in the fruit bowl!) and after trapping it they found a cocoon on the banana.