hugh spider

We had a hugh spider in our bathroom yesterday, never seen one so big. It had long hairy legs and the color was grey-ish brown, pretty scary. Does anybody know what kind this is and if they are poisonous?

When you say "huge" what do you mean? 5cm diameter (leg tip to leg tip)? 10 cm? 15 cm?


The vast majority of spiders are harmless to humans. They will run away. You might get a bite from some spiders if you try to grab them. I don't know if there are any harmful ones in HK. Get a broom and chase it out.

Sounds similar to of the one i found in my bathroom. I told it to leave immediately andthreatened it with the brush, but it looked sad and lonely so I let it stay. Next thing was that it invited it's friends and family. And they are all so friendly!! My social life has definitely improved. I often take her (I'm sure it is a "she" - such beautiful eyes and a to-die-for figure) to the office in a big clear lunch box to show people. But they don't seem as keen as I am. Some people just don't understand the nature of true love. As I sit here typing this, Emily (nice name for her, don't you think?) is sitting on my shoulder and nibbling my ear. Some of her friends and family are cosily napping on my bare legs. Her mother is really big and fat and tends to sleep on my head (where she is now). Some are on my bed. In fact, sweet things - they have taken it over and completely cover it! Gosh, these big spiders have such extended families!! Emily sends her love and says that she has many more relatives who will be visiting your apartment shortly. Maybe we should all get together for a big party!!

PS I see that you have named your spider "Hugh" - so you must be getting along pretty well already......

I saw one scuttling past the cashier in a supermarket the other week. It was colossal. Didn't want to start a stampede, so I didn't mention it to anyone at the time. It was so big, I don't think it was a local - I suspect it must have come in with the bananas?? I would have called it 'Sir' if I'd have got any closer to it...

I saw one in the front entrance to a bar on Hollywood Road last summer. Creepy little thing. I read somewhere that some animals sacrifice brain size for longevity. Others sacrifice brain size for jaw musculature. Spiders sacrifice brain size for creepiness. Really very creepy little things. All that skittering about is very off-putting.


Seriously though, your spider "Hugh" is not likely to be particularly venomous, even to a small child. Hong Kong is not known for it's poisonous spiders--Google it. If you stepped on one in the middle of the night, or rolled over onto one lying beside you in bed, or if one jumped out at you from the top cupboard in your kitchen as you reached for a martini glass... it would probably just give you a little nip before trying to escape. That said, you'd want to see a doctor if any kind of swelling or pain persisted 24 hours after the bite.