And what about the famous Harry Belafonte song, “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”, that talks about “the deadly black tarantula” hiding in bunches of bananas? Tarantulas are rare in bananas in the countries where they are grown. The song probably refers to Brazilian wandering spiders, not tarantulas at all.
Are there spiders in 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.
Should you worry about tarantulas?
More than likely if you have a bite from a spider resembling a tarantula such as a Brazilian Wandering Spider or the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider, then you really need to worry. Both of those spiders have been linked definitively to deaths in humans.
How do you get rid of tarantulas?
The best thing to get rid of tarantulas or any spiders is to contact a professional in spider removal, such as the specialist at Western Exterminator. We have the right training and equipment to safely remove tarantulas and other spiders.
What kind of stripes do tarantulas have?
While many species of spiders have colorful stripes along their legs, tarantula spiders can be colored all manner of patterns. Some of the most famous tarantula species include the Red-Knee tarantula and the Red-Rump tarantula, both native to Mexico.
Do tarantulas get on bananas?
Tarantulas are rare in bananas in the countries where they are grown. The song probably refers to Brazilian wandering spiders, not tarantulas at all.
What kind of spiders nest 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).
Are there spiders in banana boxes?
Terrified store staffers found huge tropical spiders in two fruit boxes in Germany. A huge, venomous tropical spider with a skull on its back has been found in a second supermarket in Germany by terrified workers. Both were found in a box of bananas from the Dominican Republic.
Are spiders in bananas poisonous?
For example, the Brazilian wandering banana spiders, genus Phoneutria, are among the most venomous spiders on Earth and its bite can be deadly to humans, especially children.
Can banana spiders hurt you?
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.
What happens if a banana spider bites you?
The bite of a banana spider can be extremely painful. You may experience heavy sweating and drooling and the skin around the bite usually swells, turns reddish and gets hot. It takes one to three hours for symptoms to appear. The bites may hurt and will swell, but the swelling and pain should go away after about a day.
Do spiders live in fruit?
Absolutely not; this is nothing new. Spiders and other arthropods have been accidentally hitching a ride in produce since it started being imported into the United States. Bunched fruits such as grapes and bananas make excellent hiding places for small insects and arachnids.
What's at the end of a banana?
This black tip is actually the remains of the banana flower, not a seed. Cultivated bananas do have seeds, but they're actually the three rows of tiny black dots you see throughout the length of the banana. Now that you know how to properly eat a banana, you'll be able to peel the fruit the right way!
Do spiders nest in 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.
Can you get spiders in bananas?
A woman and her seven-month-old baby were forced to vacate their home for more than three days after hundreds of tropical spiders were found in a banana. Gemma Price, 30, was mid-mouthful of the banana when she made the discovery.
What is a banana spider look like?
Banana spiders have long inward-pointing legs. The female banana spider has distinctive tufts of hair on her legs. These spiders are usually red, yellow, and/or black in color.
Where do banana spiders live?
As previously mentioned, banana spiders prefer warm regions. Consequently, they're often found throughout the Gulf states, from North Carolina to Texas. These arachnids thrive on high humidity and open space, making Florida a prime candidate for a banana spider habitat.
What is the red faced banana spider?
The red-faced banana spider, Cupiennius chiapanensis, from Central America is occasionally brought into North America on bananas and often misidentified as a toxic Brazilian spider. Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
Where do huntsman spiders come from?
They're found all over the world in tropical areas. Ecuador is where they're coming from in bananas a lot.
Is arachnids harmless?
Probably not, says a new study that shows most hitchhiking arachnids are harmless.
Where did the tarantula come from?
The tarantula, which is thought to have come with the imported bananas from Colombia, was caught by shop staff in a tupperware box and put in a freezer at the back of the store in Sydenham, south-east London.
When was a tarantula discovered at Lidl?
Last night a spokesman for Lidl said: 'I can confirm that a tarantula was discovered at our Sydenham store on the morning of June 4, 2013.
What is the deadliest spider in the world?
In 2008 a branch of Tesco in Chatham, Kent was forced to close after a terrified worker spotted a highly-venomous Brazilian Wandering Spider - the world's deadliest spider - on a banana.
Can tarantulas bite humans?
Most tarantulas are mildly venomous, with a bite that can be painful but has only in a few cases been fatal to humans. It is not the first time a spider has been found on supermarket bananas, which are imported from South America and the Caribbean.
What color are tarantulas?
Some of the most famous tarantula species include the Red-Knee tara ntula and the Red-Rump tarantula, both native to Mexico. Then there is the Cobalt Blue tarantula from Myanmar.
What are the two parts of a tarantula?
Their body parts are separated into two segments: the prosoma (cephalothorax) and the abdomen , which is also known as the opisthosoma. The two segments are joined by a portion of the body known as the pedicle, but often just referred to as the “waist.”. Tarantulas, like all spiders, also have fangs (pedipalps).
Why don't tarantulas bite?
The reason tarantulas prefer not to bite is that, first, they are shy and would rather run away. Second, they do not want to use their venom except for something they can eat and humans are too big for them to use as food. As such, they will run away or use the hairs rather than bite.
Why do tarantulas move so slowly?
This is because tarantulas do not have very good eyesight and sense the world through vibrations they pick up via their legs and hairs on their body. Moving slowly allows them to sense the world around them more easily.
How many eggs can a tarantula lay?
Female tarantulas can lay an egg sac containing anywhere from two to more than 100 eggs. They lay them within their burrows and they line an area with their silk. They then deposit the eggs there and will cover it with more spider silk to truly make it an egg sac. She will then guard the eggs until they hatch.
What is the deadliest spider in the world?
For example, the Brazilian Wandering Spider is often listed as the deadliest spider in the world. The Brazilian Wandering spider is large and has a hairy body and legs, which is why it resembles a tarantula. The venom of a Brazilian Wandering spider is very toxic and can be harmful to people. They are also referred to as Banana Spiders because one of their favorite places to hide is within bunches of bananas and can end up inside a person’s home by hitching a ride on imported bananas.
How big are tarantulas?
The majority of them are black or brown in color, but they can range in size from 7 to 10 centimeters in length all the way up to the largest spider on earth (Goliath Bird Eater) which is 30 cm in length.
1. A Banana Spider Urban Myth?
Having established that bananas can have spiders, there is one forever circulating story that is simply not true.
2. What About Harmless Spiders in Bananas?
You can easily identify the dangerous Brazilian wandering spider as it has a leg span measuring six inches!
Final Thoughts
I hope I haven’t scared you too much with all these bananas and spiders facts!
What is the name of the spider that eats bananas?
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.
What is the story of spiders laying eggs in bananas?
As the story goes, some unspecified spider species lays its eggs in banana flowers, the eggs end up inside the ripe banana fruit, and some nameless fate will overtake you if you eat the end with the eggs. Allegedly, monkeys peel bananas from the "wrong" end to avoid the spider eggs. The story appears on "question" web sites and a southeastern USA talk radio show has publicized it. One person claimed he "saw it on the Discovery Channel." (A 2015 online video that appeaars to show an adult spider bursting out of a banana, is a highly skilled fake, as video animator Kaleb Lechowski admitted on his tumblr page).
Why do monkeys peel bananas?
Allegedly, monkeys peel bananas from the "wrong" end to avoid the spider eggs. The story appears on "question" web sites and a southeastern USA talk radio show has publicized it. One person claimed he "saw it on the Discovery Channel.".
Do spiders lay eggs in flowers?
None of these spiders lays its eggs in flowers. Flowers change so fast that they would be poor places for eggs. Huntsman spiders guard their egg sacs in a leaf nest, as shown. Many other species found on banana plants do much the same. On rare occasions some spider may place an egg sac on the outside of an already-grown banana. Such an object would be hard for even the hungriest consumer to miss. (In March 2015, a panicked banana-buyer in Wales misidentified just such an egg sac, harmless of course, as "the world's deadliest spider," setting off another foolish media feeding frenzy).
What to do if you find a banana with a spider egg sac on it?
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.
Why did the spider emerge from the banana shipment?
People come to the conclusion that the spider has managed to emerge from the banana shipment because it was born there inside the bananas.
Why do bananas need to be checked before shipping?
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.
Do bananas have spider eggs?
It makes a whole lot of sense, and also bananas are grown in areas where there will tend to be a vast number of spiders that are active. If you actually studied the area, there would be spider eggs everywhere, since they will all be aware of the best places to hide their eggs to give them the best possible chance of survival.
Can spiders break through bananas?
The skin of the banana is far too tough for them to break through. If that’s the case, which it is, then how would the spider be able to lay its eggs inside of a banana?
Do spiders like bananas?
The spider doesn’t have some kind of penchant for bananas. They simply see a surface to put their eggs on, and when they did it, the banana was probably in a better spot than when we see it.
Can you find eggs on bananas?
Of course, when it does happen, some people stress about it , but finding these eggs on bananas will be a very rare thing.
