To think this should be illegal? (Picture of spider included)

[SoniaFouler]

Why? Just WHY? And HOW does something like this exist on the same planet as us?

I know some people say we are all Gods creatures and we all have a right to be here, blah blah blah, but this surely can only be the creation from something evil and to punish humans for something we’ve done in the past?

The article the picture is from says this type is not aggressive to humans but I would BEG TO DIFFER because if I saw that thing in my house it would give me a heart attack and I would die.

How do people in Australia live? I wouldn’t be able to get anything done. I know people say that the long trip is what puts them off from visiting but I truly believe the country would see tourism skyrocket if there was an iron-clad guarantee that people wouldn’t come face to face with this type of thing. And before anyone chimes in with “I live in Australia and that’s very rare/I’ve never even seen a single spider here in my life” sorry, but I do not believe you, and even the mere fact it is even in existence means I will never go down under. I don’t understand how people are able to function in Australia on a day to day basis, honestly, and it’s not even a “I’d never leave the house” or “I’d set fire to my house and move” situation because THEY ARE STILL THERE, EVERYWHERE. Seriously Aussie MNers, are you not looking over your shoulders right now reading this in case one of these or its cousins is behind you? 😭

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that thinks this

@Agapornis

Learning about spider species and what danger they actually pose should be part of the primary school curriculum! People don't have these fears about all snails, caterpillars, fish, or frogs - some of which are very deadly. Can you imagine - "there's a frog in my house" - "burn the house down!"

Centipedes put real fear into me — bites are supposedly quite painful.

I have a deep fear of spiders, but am also strangely fascinated by them. So could definitely watch a huntsman … from a very safe distance.

The thought of one near my face makes me want to vomit

@HannahsLife

I don't understand why I, being terrified of spiders, clicked on this thread.

Yes, this is me on every spider thread I see! 😂

Spideys are lovely. Maybe spider-phobics should be made illegal.

@MonsteraDeliciosa

There's nothing else in the pic that can help show the scale, so it's not clear how big that spider actually is; though to be fair it looks pretty hefty.

Using the word hefty to describe that spider genuinely brought me out in a sweat 😆 hell naaaaaaw!

[quote Myusernameisnotmyusernameno]So I found the article and it is real but was 'only 4.5 cm'

www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/horrified-woman-finds-huge-huntsman-23753787.amp[/quote]
And OP knew this before she posted the pics, which is why she referred to the article but didn't include a link

Spiders terrify me but I’d never harm one because they are so valuable to the ecosystem. Just think how terrified they must be of humans.

@Fraine is that just body though. Legspan can't be included

I like tarantulas - they are like furry little mice with more legs and they move slowly. Had a yen once for a red knee was a pet but my dd said she wouldn't visit if I got one 😂.

However. That thing on the toilet 🙈🙈. Wtf !?

I wonder if it flushed the loo afterwards 😂

@MrsSkylerWhite

Sorry, love spiders. That one is spectacular, could watch it for hours.

Same. What a handsome creature!

@Fraine
And OP knew this before she posted the pics, which is why she referred to the article but didn't include a link

OP didn’t know this because OP was too distracted by the monstrosity in the picture and OP didn’t include a link because OP’s link wasn’t the Mirror, but the DailyMail, which is almost a guaranteed “YABU for linking that rag” round these parts, whatever the subject matter, so OP thought it best to omit it. So you can take your and stuff it, quite frankly

To everyone else: I admit I am slightly disturbed at people calling it beautiful and handsome But whatever tickles your pickle, I suppose

To the person who opened the visor on the motorway: HOW did you not cause a pile up?

You know arachnophobia is a mental health condition so yes you are being unreasonable. The problem is you not the spider.

That spider can get well and truly fucker.

NO THANKS.

It's quite clear in the article that the woman only zoomed in on the 4 and a half cm spider, so people could help identify it.

Amter!! They jump!!?
What do they jump for?? To attack? I heard they can kill cattle?

[quote SoniaFouler]@Fraine
And OP knew this before she posted the pics, which is why she referred to the article but didn't include a link

OP didn’t know this because OP was too distracted by the monstrosity in the picture and OP didn’t include a link because OP’s link wasn’t the Mirror, but the DailyMail, which is almost a guaranteed “YABU for linking that rag” round these parts, whatever the subject matter, so OP thought it best to omit it. So you can take your and stuff it, quite frankly [/quote]
Nice try but the OP is lying because even the Daily Mail article OP is referring to clearly says the spider is 4.5cm in length.

And you can take your fake and shove that

I defy you to tell me that this spider face and this spider paw are not absolutely adorable!

@goldierocks

I miss my Dad every day, but one of the things I am most grateful for is teaching me to overcome my fear of spiders when I was very young.

I find them fascinating and have 5 pet tarantulas. I've attached a picture of my eldest; I think she's absolutely beautiful (I have 3 of this breed, plus 2 others who are just as lovely).

The goliath birdeater spider from South America it is the largest spider in the world by mass and body length (up to 13 cm), but it is second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span. It's not particularly attractive to look at though. Arboreal (tree dwelling) spiders are more aggressive than their ground-dwelling cousins.

Did you know that tarantulas have one of the largest differences in life span between males and females? Male tarantulas usually die between 7-9 years old, whereas a female can live until her 30's.

Another fact - spiders grow by shedding their outer skin (which is really an exoskeleton) in one piece. A spider on its back with its legs in the air is more likely to be moulting than dead. Fully grown tarantulas shed their skin at least once a year. If they were to lose a leg or two, it would grow back.

As I said, they are absolutely fascinating creatures!

I am a massive arachnophobe.

But that's a magnificent beast.

I lived in Queensland for many years, and was Not A Fan of Huntsmen; however, I recognised their worth (begone, redbacks!) and sought to not kill one if there was any alternative (like being alone in the house with a 3" legspan one on the bedroom blind...).

But, regarding tarantulas, many years ago, on holiday, a mate and I were driving between SF and LA in California, and I spotted a tarantula on the road. We stopped, and I got a flip flop and hammered it to death got it to place a few legs on the end of the flipflop, then I walked it off the road to safety. It walked slowly and sedately.

A Huntsman that size would have been up my arm and in my hair in seconds.

Different, though related- beasts.

But seriously, a Huntsman's legspan, one inside your house, genuinely can be 4 inches. The one that lived in our stairwell was.

I am an arachnophobe. I have seen some of these pictures before. The only solution now is to become one of those flat Earthers, who don’t believe Australia exists. La la la la la. Am sticking my fingers in my ears.

@Mouseonmychair

You know arachnophobia is a mental health condition so yes you are being unreasonable. The problem is you not the spider.

I'd prefer to call it 'a phobia', not a 'mental health condition'.

My son has several pet tarrantulas, they are very shy, peaceful creatures, they have absolute zero interest in humans.
Hollywood has demonised these creatures, same as the sharks.

I've posted about this before but...
I grew up in the middle east and can still remember vividly when i found one of these - a camel spider - behind the dustbin in the garage. It was the size of my hand.
In fact it's not an actual spider despite the name. But it bloody well looks like one.