Chinese Spiders

[Melanie1989]

Hi guys,

Hopefully someone could answer a rather random question for me. What is the spider situation like in China? Do you see them often? Are they big? Poisonous? 

 

Seems like a stupid question when China has such a beautiful culture, i know, but we have an infestation here right now and we are seeing seriously gigantic ones, at least 2 a day. So while my partner is planning for the future, i'm thinking about where i can immigrate to. 

 

I had a look on the internet, but couldn't find any answers.

If you have spent any time in China, could you maybe share your experience please. Thanks.

[anonymoose]

Haven't seen any nasty ones in Dalian or Shanghai. A lot of cockroaches though.

[Melanie1989]

Cockroaches i can handle. Reminds me of "Joe's Apartment"

 

Spiders seem to smell my fear and head straight towards me.

[Lu]

I occasionally saw a small spider in my Beijing apartment, but I don't remember any big ones.

[dnevets]

I never saw a single spider in China. In 3 years. Always thought that was a bit odd...

[Mouseneb]

Hainan has some giant ones.

[Melanie1989]

Are actual tarantulas living in China? I know it's a really huge place, but areas like Nanjing, Harbin, Shenzhen etc......That's very discouraging about Hainan. Ugh, there are so many in my house right now.

[Mouseneb]

This one: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_bird_spider

My friend Ryan (of Lost Laowai and Hao Hao Report) found a couple of these in and around his house, which is down the street from mine in Hainan. We also get these giant banana spiders in some areas: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_silk_orb-weaver

[Melanie1989]

Oh, bloody hell.

[Mouseneb]

http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7132/7520475974_fc3de6c849_m.jpg

Don't click that.

[Melanie1989]

Now you're just being mean. I saw the thumbnail already in my email........Actually wasn't that bad. I think the smaller ones look creepier. 

[Shelley]

This list looks good http://amaurobiidae.com/araneae/specieslist.php?allspecies=allspecies

[anonymoose]

Nanjing, Harbin, Shenzhen

 

I\ve never lived in those places, so I can't say for sure, but I'd be very surprised if you find any in your house in Nanjing or Harbin. Harbin is just too cold, and I guess Nanjing is similar to Shanghai. I'd be less sure about Shenzhen given that it's more tropical, but even then, large Chinese cities are not exactly teaming with wildlife. Having said that, though, I was surprised to see stoats several times right in downtown Shanghai. Oh, and I also had a gecko in my apartment once in Shanghai.

[Melanie1989]

Thank you, Shelley. I'll have a look through it and see how common they are.

 

Anonymoose that's pretty cool about the gecko. Does that happen a lot? I never considered the idea of other wildlife in China before. Then again, i had the same hopes for Yorkshire and on my first day i saw a huge stag lying dead in the road with its head on backwards. 

 

But thank you, that is very reassuring. I'll still go either way, but it'd be nice to be prepared.

[liuzhou]

My friend Boris was huge. He lived largely in my toilet and ate loads of mosquitoes - always a good idea.

Sadly one day, about 5 years ago, he ate his last mossie and dropped dead. I still have his dessicated body on my desk at work. Happily, I'm not at work or I'd post his picture. 

Maybe tomorrow.

[anonymoose]

Anonymoose that's pretty cool about the gecko. Does that happen a lot?

 

In Shanghai, no. But I wouldn't be surprised if it's common in some warmer and more rural areas.

 

I stayed in a hotel, in Vanuatu if I remember correctly, that had loads of geckos in the room.

[Melanie1989]

 

 

My friend Boris was huge. He lived largely in my toilet and ate loads of mosquitoes - always a good idea.

Sadly one day, about 5 years ago, he ate his last mossie and dropped dead. I still have his dessicated body on my desk at work. Happily, I'm not at work or I'd post his picture. 

Maybe tomorrow.

 

Boris is a spider, right? Good God. And why must everyone post photos? At least put a warning as i know some people would probably like to see. But i've seen enough of them for the past few weeks, i've been a nervous wreck. Thank God i still have several large tins of paint lying around, or i'd have probably left home by now.

 

If Boris is a fellow gecko, then yes, please post photos!

 

 

 

I love geckos.

[Demonic_Duck]

Boris must surely be a spider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvFuUaCe8eY

 

Not seen any much bigger than the head of a nail in Beijing. I'd imagine they grow bigger in the more tropical climes of the south.

[liuzhou]

Boris is a spider, right?

 

Er, yes. Not a Who fan, then?

 

Boris must surely be a spider.

https://www.youtube....h?v=bvFuUaCe8eY

 

Well, someone got it!

[Melanie1989]

 

 

Er, yes. Not a Who fan, then?

 

Nope. Never saw the appeal in them. Though i did have the opportunity to meet Roger Daltery once and turned it down. But apparently he's nice.