Man finds huge venomous Huntsman spider on switch as he goes to turn light off
A man has shared shocking pictures after finding a huge venomous spider on his light switch at home.
Steve Meighan, who lives in Cape Town, South Africa, found the Huntsman spider after doing some cleaning up in his snake room.
Whilst Steve says he is used to encountering strange beasts in his job running a reptile rescue company, Deep South Reptile Rescue, he was still shocked to find the huge critter crawling on the switch.
"I went in as I always do and when I turned around to put the light off, I noticed this huge rain spider," he told NeedToKnow.online.
"I didn't expect it so it was a surprise, but I was happy to see one of them. They are very docile, beautiful, and sweet spiders," he said.
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Steve works at a reptile rescue company called Deep South Reptile Rescue (Jam Press/Deep South Reptile Rescue)Rain spiders are a type of Huntsman, and are the second largest spider species in South Africa which grow to roughly 10 cm.
Steve said: "They actively hunt prey so we often see them in and around the house.”
"But in general they are gentle spiders and do a great job of controlling populations of small insects and will even take on small lizards when they reach their adult years."
As the spiders are usually very harmless, Steve let it stay put and removed its legs from the switch, to turn the light off.
He said: "He was very unbothered by me and didn't react.”
"They are completely harmless although they can give you a nip if you try to hurt them, so this was the safest bet."
In the pictures, which were shared on Facebook, shows the spider grasping onto the switch with its long, brown legs.
The reptile buff says he was surprised to see the spider but 'was happy to see one of them' (Jam Press/Deep South Reptile Rescue)Facebook users commented on the post. Tabby said: "I am so terrified of spiders. There is absolutely no way I could get even close enough to put a bowl or something over it."
Fiona added: "That would be my light staying on forever.”
One comment from Myra said: "While I appreciate spiders, I totally freeze up at the sight of them".
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"Love snakes but hate spiders!" added Hazel. "I would die!!!" said someone else.
Cherise added: "I think my hubby's soul would leave his body if he saw this! Lol I'm ok with spiders."
"I let them do their thing, no harm to me," commented another user.
There are only three species of spider that have medical significance to humans in South Africa, including the button spider, violin spider and sac spider, while most of the rest are completely harmless.
Steve recommended: "If you see one, just scoop it outside or let it be and you'll be fine."
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