Rare spiders invade Tredworth home
IT'S the stuff of nightmares – spiders with green giant fangs who wait until its dark and then jump out on unsuspecting passers by.
But that's the terrifying scenario in one Tredworth street which has become home to a colony of 40 rare segestria florentinas.
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The species Segestria Florentina have been causing havoc in Tredworth
Amy Miles, 25, discovered the creepy crawlies living in a wall next to her nan's house in Ducie Street.
She said: "I was outside and I saw these little black legs poking out of the wall.
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"I went and shone a torch in and saw this shiny spider. I panicked, I thought it might be poisonous."
After Amy managed to trap one of the creatures in a jar she contacted Cheltenham wildlife expert David Haig, who is the county spider recorder.
He confirmed it was no normal arachnid and identified it as a segestria florentina.
The species is not normally found so far in land and both David and Amy are at a loss as to how the colony came to be living in the wall.
Mr Haig now has one of the spiders in his care for testing.
He said they weren't dangerous but had been known to bite people.
"It would hurt but they wouldn't put you in hospital," he said.
"They live in a silken tube which they embed into brickwork and then when other creatures go past, they come out and grab them.
"They are usually seen around coastal areas and in ports like Bristol and London, where they arrive in ships."
"I'd happily let one crawl on me," he said, "But I wouldn't want to pinch it."
Mr Haig said the segestria florentina could be lurking in other areas too.
"They could well be elsewhere in Gloucester, they might have come from the docks," he said.
Although Amy admits she is terrified of the spiders she is determined to find out more about them.
She said: "I would like to know how on earth they got to Tredworth."
Anyone who spots the spiders should leave them alone as they pose no threat if undisturbed.
n For more news from Tredworth log onto www.thisisgloucester shire.co.uk/tredworth
Comments
by Rowan, glos
Wednesday, November 19 2008, 5:11PM
“:-o:P:-o OMG i am so freaked out lol !!!!!!”
by mr c, brockworth
Tuesday, September 30 2008, 8:56AM
“they r nasty man :L
if i see one
lets jus say thats 1 less in the world
:L”
by james, churchdown
Thursday, September 25 2008, 10:28PM
“yh m8 thats was like me enit i was out side when i seen it but everyone thought i was making it up and i whacked it off the wall, until i came back out side to see it was on the wall next to my head my cousin came out n then quickly dived back in hahahhahaa but they are rank and if one poses a threat to me it will be seeing the good life on the bottom of my nike trainer!! safe kym”
by Kimberley, churchdown
Thursday, September 25 2008, 10:01PM
“me and my cousin was outside earlier when i spotted a pair of legs comin out of the wall i looked closer and noticed it was wrapped in shiny silk i pocked it and it shot out it was all shiny and black, i cant tell you how scared i am! its still there... its waiting for me i know it is!”
by Dan, Coventry
Wednesday, September 10 2008, 11:33AM
“AMY, your my hero”
by sharon, gloucester
Sunday, September 07 2008, 10:57AM
“How come you let fly swat make such comments on your website.Would you allow people from coney hill reply to his silly little comments?i expect not.Flyswat you are a nerd.”
by phl, leicestershire
Sunday, September 07 2008, 10:53AM
“Its bite is reportedly quite painful.[1] It feels like a deep injection, and the pain can last for several hours.[7]
Two neurotoxins and one insecticide were found in the venom.[8] The venom reduces the rate and amount of sodium inactivation. This effect is probably responsible for the prolongation of the action potential.[9]
taken from wikipedia”
by DM, gloucester
Sunday, September 07 2008, 8:33AM
“THESE SPIDERS ARE MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK AND I WOULD SAY THAT MOST HOUSEHOLDS IN GLOUCESTER WILL HAVE THEM. LOOK BEHIND YOR GARDEN SHED OR BRICKWORK AND FOR SOMETHING LARGER TRY BEHIND THE FRIDGE,COOKER,SOFA, AND UNDER THE BED,YOU WILL FIND SPIDERS OF ALL SIZES GUARANTEED !!!!!!”
by Anon, Gloucester
Saturday, September 06 2008, 11:44PM
“I have to say, when i lived in Tredworth over 2 years ago, i had them on the walls outside my house, my Fathers car port is home to a few also. These spiders have been around for years, i am suprised nobody has pointed this out before but then again as i and many others probably believe they are common for Gloucester now, we might not be costal but we do have the docks!!”
by Vinchenzo, Chelt
Saturday, September 06 2008, 9:49PM
“segestria florentina... You don't know of any spider that eats woodice?
How about the Woodlouse Spider? They live in the uk and can also bite! They are very common.
I hate spiders. People always say 'Oh they are more scared of you , than you are of it'.... Nonsense....I don't see a spider requiring a change of underwear after meeting me. They just stare at me with all 8 eyes....blurgh. I don't know why they come in my house...they are the Johnsons of the creepy crawly world....”