Looks like we’ve got some unexpected new residents in the North Island - and they’ve crawled straight out of our worst Aussie nightmares.
Associate Professor of Entomology at Lincoln University, Cor Vink, told the NZ Herald that a breed of Huntsman spider might be settling in Napier’s Pandora suburb, with two sightings reported just nine months apart.
The latest sighting was pictured in someone’s backyard and reported to the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) last week, on Thursday, March 6.
Vink says the exact species is unknown and would need further examination under a microscope.
But before you start packing your bags and moving cities, these creepy crawlies aren’t exactly new to NZ.
There are actually multiple species crawling around, including in Auckland's Delana Cancerides and Christchurch's Isopedella Victorialis.
Auckland’s variant, also known as the Brown Avondale Spider, was first reported over a century ago in 1924 - so, technically, they’ve called NZ home longer than all of us.
What we do know about the Huntsmans already spotted is that they look big and scary - up to 20cm across, legs included - but don’t pack nearly as much of a risk as we might think.
Vink told the NZ Herald they’re unlikely to bite unless provoked and are generally harmless, posing no serious risk to humans.
“Even if they did, their bite is considered a minor inconvenience,” the report says.
According to Auckland Zoo, “these guys are notoriously fast", so catching one might prove to be difficult.
Though, Te Papa says they show “little inclination to bite anything other than suitably sized prey.”
“Avondale spiders are nocturnal and prefer to hide under the loose bark of wattle trees during the day.”
The Christchurch Huntsman typically prefers chilling under loose bark, but can also be found in tree stumps, fallen logs, and hollows.
“They’re most active around 3am, so they may be present in an area but go unnoticed.”
Our homes can sometimes provide the same kind of conditions they seek outside, but it’s pretty rare.
On the bright side, if there is one in your place, they do help keep other insects in check - including moths, flies, cockroaches, earwigs etc.
Though, after seeing this Aussie Huntsman devour an entire possum, I’ve got the heebie-jeebies all over again.
So, if you’re in Napier and spot an unusual eight-legged visitor, you might want to contact MPI to help identify our new neighbours and see what they're all about.
