# Could imported cut flowers harbour dangerous spider? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 28, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549 "2013-05-28T15:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/1 "2013-05-28T15:39:51Z")
I was sitting reading the SDMB on my tablet when I hear what sounds like something small and hard hitting the coffee table beside me. I first thought that it was a leaf or stem falling from the bunch of flowers on the table. Upon turning to look, I noticed it was in fact a spider. It has a body about 1cm long and is dark brown. I would guess its legs, when extended, are about 1.5cm long and look subtly striped. Now, I have no idea whether this is a native (to the UK) or venomous foreign species, and I suspect that any attempt to identify the beast via Google Images would probably be fruitless. So I’m going to err on the side of caution and kill the little blighter anyway (it is currently safe in a well-sealed plastic container). Question is though, am I being needlessly paranoid? If the flowers are imported, wouldn’t they be treated before entering the UK to kill any pests? ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/2 "2013-05-28T16:07:13Z")
In case anyone would like to have a go at identifying the wee beastie, here it is: [http://sdrv.ms/13fKZKC](http://sdrv.ms/13fKZKC) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/3 "2013-05-28T16:08:02Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > If the flowers are imported, wouldn’t they be treated before entering the UK to kill any pests? Almost certainly. Flowers and such coming into the US have to be treated to kill pests, and my understanding is that the UK is even more stringent about keeping pests and infestations out of its tiny and fragile domain. Not sure what the equivalent of the USDA is there, but they or their website could probably tell you the relevant regs. Interesting if the spider turns out to be a foreigner, though. Keep us posted. ETA: What kind of flowers/ornamentals do you think it came in on? ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/4 "2013-05-28T16:10:14Z")
There are [stowaways](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=dangerous-spiders-grocery-produce)in [plants](http://jacksonville.com/community/my_st_johns_sun/2009-07-15/story/man_bitten_by_baby_rattlesnake_at_st_augustine_wal_mart), [produce](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1052712/Worlds-deadliest-spider-discovered-Britain-inside-box-Tesco-bananas.html), and [other goods](http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showpost.php?p=371297&postcount=1) that come [shipped](http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2004/04/15/another-store-another-snakebite.htm)from [somewhere](http://www.wflx.com/story/13002594/viper-snake-bites-fl-shopper?redirected=true)else. It’s a good idea to pay close attention to what you unpack or unwrap! ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/5 "2013-05-28T16:26:18Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Almost certainly. Flowers and such coming into the US have to be treated to kill pests, and my understanding is that the UK is even more stringent about keeping pests and infestations out of its tiny and fragile domain. Not sure what the equivalent of the USDA is there, but they or their website could probably tell you the relevant regs. > > Interesting if the spider turns out to be a foreigner, though. Keep us posted. > > ETA: What kind of flowers/ornamentals do you think it came in on? It’s a mixed bunch of roses, white lillies (Orania I **think** ), and various types of foliage. Unfortunately I no longer have the packaging, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was a foreign import. Have posted a pic of the spider now upthread if you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/6 "2013-05-28T16:27:23Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > So I’m going to err on the side of caution and kill the little blighter anyway (it is currently safe in a well-sealed plastic container). I wouldn’t smash it. If you can’t get an answer here, it will be easier for your local arachnologist to identify if it remains intact. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/7 "2013-05-28T16:59:41Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I wouldn’t smash it. If you can’t get an answer here, it will be easier for your local arachnologist to identify if it remains intact. I’ve decided upon a stay of execution after this. I actually don’t dislike spiders, and if I can get a very positive ID as a native British species I might consider releasing it into the garden. I think I’m starting to sound a bit foolish being so concerned over one tiny creature! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/8 "2013-05-28T17:04:26Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > There are [stowaways](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=dangerous-spiders-grocery-produce)in [plants](http://jacksonville.com/community/my_st_johns_sun/2009-07-15/story/man_bitten_by_baby_rattlesnake_at_st_augustine_wal_mart), [produce](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1052712/Worlds-deadliest-spider-discovered-Britain-inside-box-Tesco-bananas.html), and [other goods](http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showpost.php?p=371297&postcount=1) that come [shipped](http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2004/04/15/another-store-another-snakebite.htm)from [somewhere](http://www.wflx.com/story/13002594/viper-snake-bites-fl-shopper?redirected=true)else. > > It’s a good idea to pay close attention to what you unpack or unwrap! Yup. At my last assignment, they added a section to their safety manual - “What to do about black widow spiders.” This is in Airdrie, Alberta - we don’t normally have black widow spiders here, but they can apparently survive here quite nicely when they come in on a shipment of stuff. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/9 "2013-05-28T19:52:24Z")
With the translucent reddish/brownish legs, and the body looking like that, it looks a lot like the [woodlouse spider](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlouse_spider)s that are the most common spiders I find inside my house. They are found all over Europe, Asia, and parts of the Americas. We certainly get lots of [wood lice](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlouse) (“pill bugs” or “roly polies” or “sow bugs” or whatever you call them) here, so it stands to reason, I guess. If it is a woodlouse spider, the bite can be painful like a bee sting (they have large jaw muscles, apparently, so their fangs can pierce exoskeleton of the wood louse), but isn’t supposed to be dangerous to people. But I’m no expert, so let’s see what other people think about your spider. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-imported-cut-flowers-harbour-dangerous-spider/659549/10 "2013-05-28T22:59:27Z")
Officially everything should be treated on entry to the country, but really, random animals show up quite often in imports- the zoo I used to work in, in the UK, had (off the top of my head) two black widow spiders, a gecko and a small tree frog donated by local supermarkets or people who’d found them in imports- a friend also wound up with a salamander that her aunt found in a box of bananas. No idea what species it is though. I wouldn’t pick it out as being an exotic if I just saw it wandering around…