# Giant house spider! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826 "2011-09-01T04:08:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 1, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/1 "2011-09-01T04:08:44Z")
šŸ™‚ She was really fast. Iā€™ll try to get a picture with my crappy camera. In the meantimeā€¦ [_Tegenaria duellica_; formerly known as _T. gigantea_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_house_spider) ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/2 "2011-09-01T04:11:10Z")
Yeah, Iā€™m about to go to bed and would rather not have horrible nightmaresā€¦ ---
**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:** [September 1, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/3 "2011-09-01T04:27:48Z")
[Isnā€™t she a _beaut?_](http://www.flickr.com/photos/27492458@N05/6102270164/in/photostream) [Hey! Get back in there, you nut!](http://www.flickr.com/photos/27492458@N05/6102270156/in/photostream/) Roomie thinks Iā€™m having entirely too much fun. Sheā€™s covered the poor thing with a dish towel. I guess Iā€™d better let it go outside. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/4 "2011-09-01T04:33:22Z")
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I clicked. ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/5 "2011-09-01T04:49:42Z")
OMGā€¦if you were around I would poke you in the eyes. BAD Johnny. BAD. Creepy crawly feelings. ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/6 "2011-09-01T10:44:35Z")
Oh, dearā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/7 "2011-09-01T12:53:46Z")
That seems a normal size spider. I tried putting on my shoe once and a thing like that had crawled inside and hid in the toe. (And in saying this I am sure those who live in Africa or South America will come back with stories of huge spiders). ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/8 "2011-09-01T13:00:12Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > (And in saying this I am sure those who live in Africa or South America will come back with stories of huge spiders). Pfft. We grow 'em pretty big in London, [too](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/13/article-1077116-01DF5F8D000004B0-343_468x317_popup.jpg). šŸ˜‰ ---
**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:** [September 1, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/9 "2011-09-01T13:29:46Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > That seems a normal size spider. Itā€™s just what theyā€™re called. I guess theyā€™re giant compared to other house spiders. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/10 "2011-09-01T13:33:45Z")
No spider lives in this home long. I have seen Arachnaphobia šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/11 "2011-09-01T13:34:41Z")
looks like Boris. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/12 "2011-09-01T14:06:05Z")
Iā€™ve said it before, Iā€™ll say it again: Iā€™m never moving to a place where theyā€™re commonly called ā€œgiantā€ house spiders. The Pacific Northwest is pretty, but definitely not for me. Ew. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/13 "2011-09-01T14:18:44Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > That seems a normal size spider. I tried putting on my shoe once and a thing like that had crawled inside and hid in the toe. > (And in saying this I am sure those who live in Africa or South America will come back with stories of huge spiders). Donā€™t you have some [pretty freakinā€™ giant spiders](http://www.westaust.net/wildlife/huntsman_spider.jpg) in Australia? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/14 "2011-09-01T14:21:44Z")
Yep, we donā€™t breed venomous spiders over in the UK but by heck we breed 'em fast. Those buggers can run! And I see from wikipedia that weā€™ve managed to transport them over to the US as well, hah! thatā€™ll teach you for the Colorado beetle andā€¦andā€¦andā€¦Paris Hilton. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/15 "2011-09-01T15:59:08Z")
Virtually all spiders are venomous, but very few are harmful to humans. They sure can run! The fastest true spider, apparently. There was one last year I had to come back for, since it got away the first time. The one last night was particularly active. It didnā€™t like being cooped up in the penalty jar at all! I was concerned it wouldnā€™t stay in the baking dish long enough for me to get a picture. Indeed, it got out a few times and I had to put it back in. Photographing restless spiders is hard, especially when you have a ā€˜snapshotā€™ camera. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/16 "2011-09-01T16:18:44Z")
from time to time, the superkitties have occasion to cross paths with them at casa scubaqueen. i generally try to intervene and get the spider to the great outdoors if possible. if i donā€™t, i get the fun of scraping up the remains after theyā€™ve tortured the poor thing into its grave. spiders donā€™t bother me and iā€™ll often leave them to themselves if theyā€™re out of reach of the kitties (except for brown recluses. those iā€™ll reduce to a greasy spot in a nanosecond). they reduce any bug issues inside the house to a non-issue. however, if weā€™re talking bugs - and more importantly - bees, NOW thereā€™s a problem. you know that scene in the second indiana jones movie where the blonde gets all those bugs on her?? :eek::eek::eek: i had to leave the theater until that scene was over. itā€™s a wonder i didnā€™t run screaming up the aisle. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/17 "2011-09-01T18:55:49Z")
**Scuba** , I actually like beesā€¦as long as they arenā€™t africanized. Iā€™m not allergic so that may be one reason. Another is that I know they arenā€™t harmful to me and the environment (for the most part). I have been stung but only once. Spidersā€¦they just freak me out, with their eight parts and some are hairy, scuttling butts and relentless stalking. Bees donā€™t do that to me. Well, they sometimes land on me, but fly away. There is a respect between us. šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/18 "2011-09-01T20:29:24Z")
Preach it, **VB**. My dadā€™s got hisself a fear of bees, while Iā€™ve got mine of spiders. One time, Dad asked me if I could help him get a waspā€™s nest out of the scoop of his tractor, and I was all ā€œNo problem!ā€ Grabbed me a broom and off we went, me dealing with the nest (it was empty) and Dad keeping his distance. He kills spiders for me, I get bees for him. It works. ---
**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:** [September 1, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/19 "2011-09-01T20:44:56Z")
We donā€™t get bees in the house. Iā€™ve had a couple of wasps on occasion. Spiders can be quick, but they tend to stop. Theyā€™re easy to catch. Wasps are slow, and can be dispatched readily. What I donā€™t like are the moths the size of that spider. Theyā€™re spastic. They wonā€™t sit still. They fly in your face, and bounce off the inside of the hanging lamp. Itā€™s a chore to catch them. I catch them in the penalty jar and take them outside. Theyā€™d be too messy to squash. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826/20 "2011-09-02T01:15:43Z")
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/64670843@N05/6104938580/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/64670843@N05/6104938580/) My son saw this crawling across the kitchen floor last weekend. It was about the size of a tennis ball and appeared to be carrying some sort of egg sac. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giant-house-spider/594826.md?page=2)