What are banana spiders and where are they found?
Banana spider is the common name given to large (3 cm body length) active hunting spiders of the genus Phoneutria (Family: Ctenidae). These spiders live in Central and South American rainforests. They are often found in rubbish around human dwellings, as well as hiding in foliage such as banana leaves where they sometimes bite workers harvesting bananas. They have a reputation for being quite aggressive. Other names for this spider include: Kammspinne, Bananenspinne, Wandering spider, and Aranha armadeira. The venom of this spider is neurotoxic – acting on the nervous system – and causes little skin damage. Symptoms of a bite include immediate pain, cold sweat, salivation, priapism, cardiac perturbations and occasional death. Research suggests it is similar in action to a-latrotoxin, which is produced by spiders of the Family Latrodectidae, such as the Redback and Black Widow Spiders. Another spider that seems to have been given the common name “banana spider” is actually a completely
