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?

It did look like a spider cocoon but chances are it was just the harmless British kind.

I'm definitely with those saying you shouldn't have boiled it and should have let the shop know so that they can follow process (if indeed they have one!!). But anyway, yes, you can safely sterilise with Milton, it's what it's for.

Nuke it from space. It's the only way to be sure.

Feel sorry for you OP. Boiling it won’t have damaged anything that was inside. You can still take the remains into the shop in case they need to identify anything.

Google banana moth pupa op

I don't think wiping a spider cocoon with a tissue and throwing it away would help either,would it?

NOPE

m.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ5lgCKt5YQ

Would boiling it really not harm whatever is inside?

Mummy spider is probably pissed off now though, OP, start packing your bags

YABU to let your bananas go spotty and smell of monkey farts.

I think boiling it was quite sensible. You can still return the cocoon to the store. Will you be able to tell what was inside it once it's cooled down or has it disintegrated?

GreatBeyond that is exactly the video I thought of when I saw this thread and anytime I buy bananas lol

Can’t believe you boiled it.

‘Banana spiders’ is making me think of Father Ted.

“It’s got the head of a spider, and the body of a spider.”
“How is it a banana spider? “
“...They keep it in a fruit bowl.”

Except of course, the mother spider won’t still be in the fruit bowl...

@Redwineistast I hate people who kill spiders!

I take it you're a lifelong vegan then?

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.

they can give men a painful erection that lasts days, before ultimately killing them.

I don't like people killing spiders either Red, but I also don't like spiders killing people!

Just put it vinegar on it I always just wash off spiders webs/eggs. I'm hardcore

😂 all these people getting so angry about a stranger boiling a banana. This site does tickle me sometimes!

*What are you getting hysterical over boiling a banana for?

Who gives a shit?*

I agree. What's with the hysteria?

I take it you're a lifelong vegan then?

This sort of response really pisses me off, I eat meat but I don't support the needless killing of any animal. Hunting to eat is fine, killing for food is fine. Killing for sport or out of fear is very wrong.

In this case the OP was probably correct in what she did because she killed out of need to protect her family but people who kill spiders out of fear when there's no risk to themselves or anyone else are killing needlessly.

It was one of 5 bananas in a bunch, that I am pretty sure came in a sealed bag (thrown away as I unpacked), in a Sainsbury's Online Shop that was delivered last Monday evening.

So I can't really go back to the shop as such, although I will phone Sainsbury's to let them know tomorrow.

Those came off the tree on Friday, there's always at least one spider's web/eggs. You learn to roll with the punches!

That is hell on Earth. Burn your house down.

So I can't really go back to the shop as such, although I will phone Sainsbury's to let them know tomorrow.

Of course you could have gone in store. What a cop out.
Not much use calling them tomorrow. The first thing they are going to say is bring it in. Then they are going to say we can do absolutely fuck all about this now but had you simply brought the banana in we could have called the experts in to check it out. The fact that it was prepacked is irrelevant, they can go right back through the chain with these things. You haven't given the chance. You fucking boiled it. I can't even get my head around why the fuck made you do that.

thegreatbeyond I'm blaming you for toddler DS's inevitable meltdown tomorrow morning when I can't bring myself to peel him a banana with breakfast

Bag it and back to shop. these things have to be recorded I believe.

but people who kill spiders out of fear when there's no risk to themselves or anyone else are killing needlessly

I am absolutely terrified of spiders...what am I supposed to do? Live a life of fear? Move house every time I find a spider? I can't even put them in a glass to put outside, I've tried that - the minute they move, I'm a screaming wreck..my only option is to kill them as quick as I can..and only the big bastards, I don't kill the small ones.

I'm off to check my narnas!