The discovery of three large Australian Huntsman spiders in a
Christchurch suburb has biosecurity officials worried.
They fear the Spiders, which can grow as big as a handspan, is now
established in the city.
They are not very dangerous for humans but are a threat to New
Zealand's native insects.
The three dead spiders were all found in one street in suburban Hillmorton.
Although they are not poisonous, they are not for the faint hearted - huntsman spiders can grow to size of someone's hand.
Spider expert Sonya Bissmire says she can understand why people are alarmed. "They are hairy and like the ones in the movie arachnophobia."
Kevin Fitzgibbon found one at home in his lounge on Friday morning. "It was about three inches across."
That spider was the biggest of the three and is thought to be a pregnant female. At this stage experts are not sure how they got to New Zealand.
"They could have come in with travellers who have been in Victoria in Australia or in imported goods," says Bissmire.
The worry now is that there is an established population that needs to be eradicated.
"We pride ourselves on not having any large and horrible spiders in this country. Secondly they also eat native invertebrates and other insects and so there is the potential to have impacts on those populations," says Bissmire.
They are not the only huntsman spiders to be found in New Zealand. Auckland's avondale spiders are part of the same family of spiders, and experts don't want these ones taking up permanent residence.
"We are taking it very seriously and that is why we are asking the public to help support us to help try and find these spiders so we can work out a way to deal with them," says Bissmire.
Biosecurity New Zealand is planning a door knock in the Hillmorton and Hoon Hay area next week. Their advice if you find one call in the experts or catch it if you can.
