has anyone else seen a huge spider at AKL?

[mrsmom]

I hope i won't see any spiders thsi week at AKL, I'll freak! and not be able to sleep at all.
Kim

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We have seen plenty over the years at WDW. However, never a foot in diameter!!

If my DW saw it, or accidently touched it, or stumbled upon it, we would have one less member of our party!

 

[PamNC]

You guys must stop - I'm getting the hibby-jibbies.

Lord have mercy.

PamNC

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Originally posted by Esmerelda
I wet my plants then ran back to my house.

ick..ick...ick...
Esmerelda

Did you "wet your plants or pants" lol

 

[Lambert808]

Originally posted by WDW LifeLong Fan
Did you "wet your plants or pants" lol

I didn't even notice that in the post! LMAO!!

 

[PooohBear]

Do those kind of spiders bite !??!?!?

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Originally posted by PooohBear
Do those kind of spiders bite !??!?!?

They probably just swallow you whole!

 

[MEM]

Yes, we did see a huge spider at AKL two years ago -- it was on some flowering plant on the guests side of the public viewing area near the Arusha firepit. It was not quite as large as a tarantula.

The African CM said it was a "banana spider" and while not poisonous, could deliver a painful bite. He arranged to have it moved.

 

[patsal]

Thanks I'm having one of those itchy kind of moments now that I've read this!

 

[bigsis1970]

Goodness I hate spiders more then anything in the world.. I have my fair share plus I swear where i live .. I have yet to see in any WDW and I hope i forget to look for them while I am there next month .. If not and you happen to see a dark haired girl with 2 kids in tow running around with the hibby-jibbies screaming her head off make sure I dont' hurt myself and say hello !!! oooh i have goosebumps !! ickey poo spiders!!!! Michelle

 

[daannzzz]

""Black and yellow argiope ""
I have seen this kind of spider three times in Orlando. Once was in a planet while waiting to go into the AK. It was big but not really huge or anything. We saw teo of them along the walkway around the grounds at A World of Orchids. Apparently not a lot of people take the walk as we nearly walked into their webs which were poised along part of the walkway....trying to catch tourists no doubt!

 

[MEM]

Yep, this is it, although my mind recalls it being furrier!!

It is also known as the writing spider, golden orb spider and banana spider (as it was identified to me). Nothing like this in Massachusetts!

 

[dreamflight99]

Especially in the eves...as you walk around WDW/Florida. Remember NOT to walk UNDER low-hanging trees, or between two shrubs which are CLOSE together. These spiders in particular, (any of the ORB family), weave spectacularly LARGE webs which can span more than 1 meter ACROSS, usually with an off-shaped "funnel" at one side (where they seek shelter).

They sit in the center of the web, head down, at night...poised for action. You would NOT want to walk THROUGH one of the these webs, or walk INTO one with your FACE as you passed under a tree (where the ORB was hanging on one strand deciding where to begin his/her web).


Here's more info on the Nephila or Golden ORB:

Webs of steel: The Golden Orb Web Spider is not the largest spider, but makes the largest and strongest web. It gets its name from the golden colour of its silk. The web can run from the top of a tree 6m high and up to 2m wide. Unlike other spider webs, the Golden Orb Web Spider's web is not dismantled often and can last several years.

Designed to catch large flying insects, the web is slightly angled. It is not a perfect wheel and is usually off-centre. To make its web, the spider releases a thin thread into the wind. When it catches on something, the spider walks along it trailing a stronger non-sticky thread. It repeats the process in the centre of the line to form a strong Y-frame. Around this, it spins the rest of the web out of sticky capture silk. The color ranges from dark brown to a golden yellow.

They are timid, and reluctant to bite. WDW offers a great opportunity to educate your children about Arachnids and entomolgy!

The species creates one of the strongest webs in the spider world, sometimes snaring small birds and bats. Florida is home to such a WIDE variety of insects, reptiles and mammals...it's no wonder they enjoy WDW as much as we do!!

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I have a few spiders around my house that I cannot identify (I live in Orlando). So if anyone could help me out... I would appreciate it. It started out around the size of a thumb nail. It is black and fuzzy - including the legs and it has blue markings on it's back and head with very distinguishable fangs. I saw it recently and it is about 2 inches across now. I live next to a nature preserve, I don't know if they are common in the forest areas or not.
Does anyone know what it is? I'm scared of spiders, but I won't kill them unless I know they are poisonous. I found one in my house one day and simply coached it on a piece of paper and threw it outside. Well, not SIMPLY but I somehow managed. I've noticed they are very agressive with catching bugs, but I would like to know if they pose any threat to my family or pets.

 

[liznboys]

OMG WHY did I have to open this thread!!!!!!???! I did not know that such BIG spiders existed in Florida! Those photos are SO CREEPY!!!!!!!


We had a 3.5 inch spider on our front porch this summer. And I thought THAT was big. Good grief.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

OHMYGOSH!!!

I am TERRIFIED of spiders! Why did I look at this thread??

I've seen rats at the Poly and CB, and might have noticed a small spider or two over the yrs, but nothing that was so large it would have freaked me out!! Oh, and roaches in first fl Poly room...I try NEVER to have a 1st fl room anywhere in FL but esp WDW with all the flowers, plants etc...

ohhhh.....gives me the shivers....and I'll be at the Poly on monday (9/27)...please, please don't let me see any spiders!

 

[PartyOf5a]

Ewwww...this thread reminds me of the episode of Gilligan's Island when that big hairy spider blocked Gilligan in the cave.

I've got the ebbie jebbies.

And yes, I've seen one! Not 12 inches but maybe 8 to 10 inches. It looked just like the picture Dreamflight99 posted. We were on the safari ride at Animal Kingdom and our guide stopped to show us. I'd rather see real animals.

 

[dreamflight99]

Originally posted by PneumaticTransit
I have a few spiders around my house that I cannot identify (I live in Orlando). So if anyone could help me out... I would appreciate it. It started out around the size of a thumb nail. It is black and fuzzy - including the legs and it has blue markings on it's back and head with very distinguishable fangs. I saw it recently and it is about 2 inches across now. I live next to a nature preserve, I don't know if they are common in the forest areas or not.
Does anyone know what it is? I'm scared of spiders, but I won't kill them unless I know they are poisonous. I found one in my house one day and simply coached it on a piece of paper and threw it outside. Well, not SIMPLY but I somehow managed. I've noticed they are very agressive with catching bugs, but I would like to know if they pose any threat to my family or pets.

*it sounds like the Jumper...(looks like a mini-tarantula!)...read on:
Except for two pantropical species (Edwards 1979), the jumping spider most frequently encountered in Florida is Phidippus regius C.L. Koch (The REGAL JUMPING SPIDER). This species is aptly named in terms of its size, as it is the largest jumping spider in eastern North America. The species is found in the southeastern U.S., the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas, but is most common in peninsular Florida.

Adult males of P. regius average 12 mm in length (range 6 to 18 mm). Males are always black with alternating black and white fringes on the first pair of legs; on the dorsum of the abdomen are a white basal band, a central triangular white spot, and a pair of oval white spots posteriorly. The paired chelicerae are enlarged and iridescent (green-BLUE-violet); each has a subdistal tubercle on its anterior face. The first legs of larger males are disproportionately longer than smaller males, a type of allometry.

This spider thrives in most field and open woodland habitats. Jumping spiders are harmless, beneficial creatures. The larger species, such as P. regius, are capable of delivering a painful bite, but will do so only if held tightly/squeezed. The bite itself causes a sharp stinging sensation which subsides in a few minutes and requires no treatment. These spiders are easily tamed and can be induced to jump back and forth from hand to hand.

*Thank you for refraining from killing most spiders you come across. I have poisonous spiders living around my pool/house, which I have never attempted to exterminate/kill. I also have a myriad of others, which all work together to make my yard beautiful. The most poisonous are also the most timid, (yet strikingly beautiful, black widows). They hide during the day, and only come out at night. They are beautiful, sleek and jet-black, with the tell-tale hour RED/Orange hour glass on the bottom of the abdomen.They can be very fast in the web when necessary. On ground, they are slow and lumbering creatures. We have coexisted for years, without any problems. I admire their place on the planet, and appreciate God's plan for them. Every living thing has a purpose. I try my best not to interfere with nature.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

After reading all the spider posts I'm thinking the POP sure looks inviting...less shrubs, flowers etc..less places for SPIDERS and other creepy crawlies to dwell...

Maybe the Poly's not such a great idea...my friend will kill me if I change resorts in case of spiders!!!

 

[Leota]

I have seen those giant spiders at the Poly - There were several in the shrubs on our way to the TTC early one morning - Freaked me out! I am highly allergic to spider bites & am extremely phobic. I do kill spiders in my house, esp. anything that looks remotely poisonous (which they ALL do to me!)
It's either I breath or they do - I'm choosing me!