A venomous giant just crossed the border. The Spanish funnel-web spider, one of Europe’s largest and most aggressive arachnids, has made its way to the UK. The stowaway hitched a ride in a shipment of olives from Spain, ending up in a nursery in West Sussex.
The nursery owner’s son spotted the beast scuttling across the yard. At first, just a dark blur in the corner of his eye—then the realization hit. This wasn’t some harmless garden spider. This was a nightmare with fangs.
After sharing a photo online, experts confirmed it was a **Macrothele calpeiana**, the Spanish funnel-web. This species has been infamous since at least 1989 for its size, aggressive nature, and painful bite. It doesn’t just make webs—it builds elaborate silk traps, complete with tripwires to detect prey.
This particular spider didn’t vanish into the wild, though. Instead, it ended up in the hands of Jack Casson, a spider enthusiast from Hartlepool. If there’s anyone prepared to handle a venomous, dinner-plate-sized nightmare, it’s probably him.
The nursery owner, no stranger to creepy crawlies, admitted this one stood out. “We see bugs and spiders all the time,” he said. “But this was impressive. I think it’s the largest spider in Europe.” He’s not wrong.
The real question is—was it alone? Or did more of these eight-legged predators escape into the countryside? Time will tell.
Five Fast Facts
- The Spanish funnel-web spider is the only tarantula species native to Europe.
- Its silk is so strong that scientists have studied it for potential industrial applications.
- The spider is protected under European law, making it illegal to capture or kill in its native habitat.
- Unlike most spiders, it doesn’t rely on eyesight—it senses vibrations through its web.
- The largest recorded specimen had a leg span of nearly five inches.
