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QueenSerenity42 · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 35

Alright, the question is - just how common are those gigantic Hunstman spiders? I am a SEVERE arachnophobe and have been kinda tweaking out since I saw one on someone's web journal. I freak out over little bitty spiders here... Don't think I could handle being surprised by one the size of a dinner plate. Shocked

If I ever encounter one, it will likely take a good bit of time before anyone can coax the quivering ball of terror that is me from being on the next plane home. Crying or Very sad

I just wanted to know if finding these monsters in one's apartment is a fairly common thing or if the chances of seeing one are pretty miniscule.

For those who *have* encountered one in their domecile... how the heck to you get rid of them? They're too big to squish (omg the stain...) or to capture in a cup and toss off the balcony. And from what I hear, they're damn quick. Do you just try to chase it out of the house or what?

I knew I should stay away from people's blogs. *sigh*

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Are you sure you are in the right country? The website I saw on them says they are only found in Australia.

I have never seen spiders that big in Japan.

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

Ive seen some pretty big spiders along the sides of some smaller mountain city roads up in Yamagata...

...mind you they are bigger then I was used to in Canada, but not by much.

QueenSerenity42 · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 35

I'm pretty sure I've got the country right. I know they're in Australia, but several websites I looked at say they're also in Japan. And I was under the impression that the picture I saw on the blog was taken in Japan. The link is here: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=gilkeson Just scroll down a bit and you'll see it.

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

These bad boys are everywhere in the summer, Ive never seen the other kind, and I hope I dont! Look at that beast!

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

I'll know now not to visit Kyushu.

QueenSerenity42 · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 35

*shudder* To be honest, I really wish you hadn't posted pictures. As I mentioned, I'm SEVERELY arachnophobic and I really DO NOT want to see more giant spider pictures. Been having nightmares about it as it is...

Also, is that the same kind of spider that I was talking about? (Don't really want to look close enough to check thoroughly) Same size too, I'd assume? Your post isn't really that clear.

I really hope I get PaulH's luck and never see a giant spider. Crying or Very sad

Celeste · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:24 pm Post subject:

I have seen the spider in the first picture often in the summer, I have never seen the one in the second picture. Ususally the one in the first picture is in stands of bamboo near rice paddies. I have never seen one indoors. I don't think I have ever seen a spider indoors here. (Cockroaches yes, spiders no.) I am pretty easily freaked out by spiders, and I have lived in Fukuoka for nearly 3 years with no major spider encounters.

6810 · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 309

japanese spiders? ha!

Japanese fauna? - I thought this was going to be a thread about pigeons, crows, mice, houseflies, mosquitos and roaches.

Is there anything else left alive?

Disappointing.

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

I've had a few experiences with the "giant" spiders QueenSerenity42.

But don't worry TOO much about them. They're not poisonous at all and they are deathly afraid of humans.

I've tried to catch them in a large cup to put them outside without hurting them, but a couple of times I accidently killed them. They're VERY FRAGILE.

* The two times I've been successful "catching and releasing" them, was when I used a large plastic bowl to trap/catch them and sliding a couple of pieces of paper under the bowl. Then I walked outside and let it free.

The closer you live to a large natural area such as the mountains and forests, the more likely you might find a scared stray in your house.

I've yet to run into one in the last two medium/large cities that I've lived in here in Japan. You'll most likely not run into one. If you do, just do what I mentioned above or squish it if you have to.

Your friendly neighborhood Spiderman.

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

Yep - I saw them in an/or around my apatment at times. Like Speed I just used to catch them and put them outside. The aren't poisonous and I'm sure they ate lots of mosquitos (which I really hate) so I thought they were fine.

Funny to read this post tonight because I just saw one very similar Huntsman spider run up the wall in my living room here in Melbourne tonight.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

In the forested mountains near my house there are some big spiders. Last summer I saw one that must have been 10 inches across and the web looked like it could hold a baseball if you tossed it in carefully.

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

Queen where are you moving to I think is the big question?

QueenSerenity42 · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 35

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

If you are living in the city and in a mansion Ill wager you wont seen any.

Im on the 5th floor and Ive yet to catch a fly in my place.