has anyone else seen a huge spider at AKL?

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by edcrbnsoul
Largest Spider
The world's largest known spider is a male goliath bird-eating spider (Theraphosa blondi) collected by members of the Pablo San Martin Expedition at Rio Cavro, Venezuela in April 1965. It had a record leg-span of 28 cm (11 in) – sufficient to cover a dinner plate. This species is found in the coastal rainforests of Surinam, Guyana and French Guiana, but isolated specimens have also been reported from Venezuela and Brazil.

Beautiful, BUT quite harmless (non-toxic) to humans!! (Thank goodness!). The Goliath Bird Eating Spider is one of the 300 species of tarantula living around the world. It is also the largest spider in the world with a legspan of 10 inches weighing more than 3 ounces. Despite the name, they rarely eat birds (although they may eat hatchlings). Its usual diet consists of frogs, small snakes, beetles, insects, lizards and even bats and pinky rats. The life expectancy for a female Goliath bird eater is about 25 years. Males live for only one year or less after mating. About 50% of the males are killed or maimed while trying to mate. Although it is not threatened in the wild, it does have natural enemies like certain spider wasps, some snakes, and other tarantulas. The spiders are most vulnerable during molting when they are fragile and can't move very well. Unlike other spider species, Goliath's molt (due to hairy exterior). Smaller insects can easily kill a Goliath tarantula in the process of molting. It takes several days for the exoskeleton to harden again.


FYI for VENOMOUS/DANGEROUS Spiders read on: The Wandering-spider (Phoneutria nigriventer) - maybe the most venomous species on earth. Perhaps even more venomous than the australian Atrax, and also really agressive. The one in this photo measured 6-7 inches across (leg to leg) when it was found alive in a banana crate from Columbia. It died within a couple of days.

We've got RATTLERS Galore out here in So. Cal...and some beauties specifically indigenous to this area! The Timber is a baddie...as is our little diamondback *(though tame when compared with the GIANT EASTERN DB).

I have been bit by a recluse, while in Florida. Very, very painful...causing nausea, etc. My brother was in the hospital for three weeks with a bite on the top of his foot. Lost some tissue in the process. Amazing how Such a LITTLE spider can cause SO much agony!

Interesting thread....especially relating to ORLANDO's SPIDERS!

 

[KIMHELMS99]

I must say I am definitely a phobe when it comes to spiders. Fortunately I have not had the pleasure (yikes) to see one of the lovely, large (really really large) spiders. If I had anyone within voice range would certainly have know.

I have been to AKL and have never seen one there. Please tell me that you haven't seen them at OKW! We are suppose to spend part of our stay at the Poly next trip now I'm reconsidering.
My husband would have a fit if he knew I was thinking about changing my mind because of a spider.

What do you all think? Am I just crazy?

 

[MEM]

Kim, I think the likelihood of you seeing one is very small. Just avoid getting to close to vegetation (I am already preparing myself for low-hanging branches at POR next month!)
I believe the only reason we saw the spider at AKL was because we were LOOKING for wildlife. Most spiders are very shy and will avoid you at all costs.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

This will be my 35th trip to Disney, always stay at a Disney Resort (Poly, Cont, AKL, CB, POFQ, BC, Dolphin, POP) and I've never seen a spider I remember (so maybe a little one here or there) - thank goodness. We have seen rats, roaches, and the cute little green lizards

Welcome to the tropics!

Poly in 4 days

 

[PryncessChrysty]

What is wrong with me!?! I CANNOT stand spiders but I can't stop reading this thread. Now I am soooo freaked out about going to Florida, but Disney is worth the risk. I am certainly going to be on the lookout, though. I do NOT want one of these things sneaking up on me!!


I have such bad arachnaphobia that whenever I see a spider, even just in a picture, or people talk about them, I get itchy all over. I must look so weird sitting at my desk scratching away like crazy!! LOL

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by MEM
Most spiders are very shy and will avoid you at all costs.

Absolutely! Very well stated. ~ You have no reason to hesitate or change plans due to "phobias" (LOL). We saw Lots of spiders this summer...everywhere we visited. Yet, we LOOK for them, and ALL creatures.

We saw some very interested Spiders TRYING to gain access to our suites, (on the windows/doors), and even vehicles! We noticed them at WDW (especially AK in the eve, and all the other parks at Dusk/night). The housekeepers do such a wonderful job of cleaning, most spiders are kept out of the WDW Resorts!

Go...and have a MAGICAL TIME!

TTFN...DF99

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Thank you for putting my mind at ease, just a little. I'll still look like I'm schizophrenic constantly looking around for spiders...lol

 

[dreamflight99]

All this SPIDER TALK...~And I went to the laundry room to put some clothes in the washer. Well...I glanced out the window, and LOOK what is sitting on my screen as I type! A BLACK WIDOW!! She's so beautiful! It's difficult to make out the hourglass through the screen, but you can see it. She's VERY Large, more than 1 inch across!

Here she is:

I RAN outside (barefoot...no less), to SNAP this one of her from outside. She has very distinct legs/body (Very shiny black). There is no way to MISTAKE her for ANY OTHER SPECIES!!

I also took this snap of a male (the tiny spotted one) and a female (huddled in the corner) on my waterfall, before heading in the house to post these! I told you...they are ALL over the place out here. As long as they are not in my home, I'm okay.

Poor fella...she'll most likely have him for dinner....

I do not believe these reside in Orlando...so there's a VERY slim chance of encountering them at AKL...or any other resort!

TTFN...DF99

 

[dpic]

This thread creeps me out.

 

[Disneysnel]

For all the wonderful info, I find spiders and most creatures fascinating. The only ones I do not want anywhere near me are rats and mice - they are filthy and disgusting (at least the wild ones) and NO thank you!

The cockroaches I think you see at Disney are actually Palmetto bugs - they look like HUGE cockroaches and they can FLY! They live outside though in the palmetto bushes but will wander in every now and again.

I think Florida has some really amazing creatures - I have seen grasshoppers that look like tiny rainbows there!

My DS used to have a tarantula we named her Cruella Deville and she was so sweet - like a little kitten almost. As it turned out DS has a phobia about spiders so I was the one to take care of her (what are Moms for? lol), we had to give her away when we moved to Colorado though, I was afraid it would be too cold here for her.
I still miss her 9 years later.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

How can you miss that thing?! That tarantula was disgusting!! Of course, solely due to the fact that it was a
T A R A N T U L A....OOOOH my skin is CRAWLING!! However, she was aptly named, Cruella DeVille, because spiders are
E V I L!!!

Why do I keep coming back to this thread?!? Holy Mackarel, I just can't stop myself!

I wanted to show my FH this thread, so he leaned over me to scroll the mouse down while I hid my head behind his back so I wouldn't have to see the pics again!

 

[Cestlavenus]

I'd just like to point out that Mr Walker/Driver was there that day because he's my dad. Also, he thought that spider was the coolest thing ever. The rest of us? Not so much.

Wow, I never imagined this post would get so big! Thanks for all the awesome informative posts, and sorry to freak so many people out. If it makes you guys feel any better I've been to WDW lots (5 or 6 time, not sure right now and too lazy to try to count...) and that's the only spider I've seen there. All I ever see are those icky "love bugs."

Oh, and last year there were all of these tiny lizards around everywhere. They were really cool; I think it was mating season because the males kept displaying this nifty red flap under their throats. Anyone know what those are? We loved them.

Dad, that was *not* a safe place, it was totally right under someone's balcony!!

 

[MEM]

A native Floridian told me that the tiny lizards we see on Disney property are called "anoles".

I have heard guests call them everything from geckos to iguanas to chameleons!!

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by Cestlavenus
Oh, and last year there were all of these tiny lizards around everywhere. They were really cool; I think it was mating season because the males kept displaying this nifty red flap under their throats. Anyone know what those are? We loved them.

Mem is INDEED correct, and most all the little lizards spotted on DIS property are GREEN ANOLES (Green,Knight, Brown & Bark). Anoles are the most commonly seen lizards in all of Florida. Most people call anoles "chameleons" due to the green anole's ability to change color; however, anoles are only distantly related to the chameleon, and in fact are more closely related to the Iguana. Anoles are small lizards adapted for climbing trees, shrubs, fences, and walls. They are frequently seen basking in the sun or hunting insects around Florida homes.[/b] Only the GREEN is native to the US. All the others arrived via "stowaway status" (of one kind or another!).

*GREEN ANOLE (AKA: Carolina Anoles or "Anolis carolinensis"):

*Male anoles have a large throat fan which is often displayed, along with "push-ups" and head-bobbing behaviors when they court or defend territories.

*Another GREEN ANOLE which turned BROWN...

*KNIGHT ANOLE or "Anolis equestris" (massive when compared with other ANOLES...actually dines on the smaller species):

*BROWN ANOLE or "Anolis sagrei"~varies greatly in color:

*Another BROWN ANOLE:

OTHER LIZARDS present in Florida besides the more common Anoles include:

*Southeastern FIVE-LINED SKINK(Eumeces inexpectatus):

*Another FIVE-LINED SKINK:

*EASTERN GLASS LIZARD (Ophisaurus ventralis) LEGLESS LIZARD:

*Another EASTERN GLASS LIZARD (They also change color):

*Older Glass Lizards tend to take on a GREEN tint/color:

*SIX-LINED RACERUNNER (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus):

The SIX-LINED RACERUNNER is also the only native species of whiptail in south Florida. A whiptail is a LIZARD which can easily be recognized by their long tails and distintive YELLOW stripes:

*SOUTHERN FENCE LIZARD (Sceloporus undulatus undulatus):

*FLORIDA SCRUB LIZARD or "Sceloporus woodi" (I've seen a lot of these~!)The Florida Scub Lizard can be easily identified by the dark area on each side:

HERE are some interesting NON-NATIVE introduced FLORIDA LIZARDS you may see while visiting Orlando & WDW:

*TROPICAL HOUSE GECKO (Hemidactylus mabouia) Which we've caught and examined *(then released) while on WDW property! Geckos can release their tails to escape:

*Same species, darker variation:

*NORTHERN CURLY-TAILED LIZARD (Leiocephalus carinatus armouri) which actually will hold their tails up, curling toward their bodies -- much like a scorpion:

*RED-HEADED AGAMA (Agama agama) Very Shy Lizard:

*BROWN BASILISK (Basiliscus vittatus)Quite common in Orlando:

GREEN IGUANA LIZARD (Iguana iguana) YES, these actually exist in the WILD in Florida! They most likely were either released or escaped from homes in South Florida (where they thrive):

Enjoy!!

TTFN...DF99

 

[Mr Walker/Driver]

I was fascinated by those little lizards at WDW. We were all at AK and I was waiting for the ladies, as usual, and happened to glance out of the window into some bushes, rocks and weeds. There, on the largest rock, and in plain view was a beautiful lizard going through is bobbing and showing his bright red flag. It must have been working because in a short time another lizard appeared and he started dancing around faster and more often. All of a sudden, a third lizard appeared on the rock, another male apparently because he began to bob and flash his neck flag at the second lizard, too. Of course, a battle ensued, the flagging and bobbing became very intense and the guys would push each other. They never noticed that the female had left....

I love Disney, always something new to see. hehehe.

 

[KIMHELMS99]

dreamflight99 thank you for all your information (at least I think). Could you perhaps elaborate on your spider bite from the brown recluse you received while in Florida (I'll probably be sorry for asking).

Like maybe where you were when this happened and where you were bitten.

TIA. I know spiders serve a purpose I just wish they could do it without me seeing them or inadvertantly running into them (this is making me nervous just talking about it). We are from New York and seldom see more than a daddy long leg, or other fairly small, harmless spider and I'm still a phobe.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by KIMHELMS99
dreamflight99 thank you for all your information (at least I think). Could you perhaps elaborate on your spider bite from the brown recluse you received while in Florida (I'll probably be sorry for asking).
Like maybe where you were when this happened and where you were bitten.

I knew someone might ask about this... ~And I do not wish to scare anyone away from ANY property (as this spider can be found ANYWHERE in Florida). I was bit while staying in the Poly. I was sleeping when it happened, and was bit on the top of my bottom (right side). When I awoke, the bite area was clearly evident, and extremely painful/itching. I began to experience episodes of nausea and headaches, and vomiting ensued. I went to the e-room, where the physician examined the bite, and declared the B. Recluse as the likely culprit.
I was given some prescrips for meds, and contacted my DB as soon as I was released. He resides in Melbourne beach, and had previous experience with bites, etc. He always keeps this kit in his home:

(Order similar product @ 888-RECLUSE for $24.95 and $5.00 shipping~100% guarantee).

The treatment was applied immediately, and it made all the difference in the world. I also took antibiotics and Antihistamines (to help control itching), pain meds, etc. The area around the bite was hot, swollen and red at first. Later, as time progressed...it became more darkened and bruised in appearance (w/almost a bullseye pattern) and hard in the center. Apparently, the Dr. concluded I did not receive a large dose of venom (possibly because I moved during the bite or the spider failed to administer such), and did not suffer a severe reaction/necrosis. (*Thank the Lord!).

*The BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER:

 

[kellydizfan]

Oh My Gosh!

 

[KIMHELMS99]

Oh man I knew I would be sorry for asking (thanks for the answer though). Now I'm really paranoid..................

 

[dreamflight99]

Over the past 14 years we have traveled to Florida & WDW every summer, staying for more than 2 months each visit. On only one occasion have I ever been affected (bit) by a spider. I have taken photos of Gators in the wild (stop when I see a nice one, and approach w/caution as DH watches my back/sides/etc.), snakes...lightning, and other wild phenomena.

I urge you to relax and enjoy the time you spend at WDW, w/o an overwhelming fear of spider bites, etc. Just be alert, and use common sense. Even mosquitoes carry west nile nowadays, and are out every eve in Orlando. Use caution, and be prepared. The CM at the Poly believes the little recluse possibly wandered in off the Patio (Ground floor room), or was blown in during a wind gust. Many times MK opens these doors when cleaning, etc. Also, sometimes previous guests left the doors open for extended periods of time. Somehow...he/she came inside the room. They are quite tiny, and not noticible.
My DH was not bit...(possibly his hide was too tough!! LOL), but he felt terrible for me. Once I was past the physical symptoms, I was okay with the bite. I still have no fear of spiders, or most any other creature on this earth. I do...however, have tremendous respect for the venomous species of spider.

We share this planet with a wide and amazing array of creatures. Some studies have stated that you can find a spider within three feet of you at all times. This doesn't sound so unbelievable once we know that there are about 35,000 known spider species and that they have been around for at least 380 million years! Scientists estimate that there may be about 180,000 spider species in the world. Most of us have had close encounters we are not even aware of eek. Just try to put these things in the back of your mind, and focus on family and entertainment! I am not going to tell you about the GIANT spider which hung down a single strand of silk behind my DS & I in the back of the US Hollywood Tour tram!!

TTFN...DF99