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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Two large spiders were found in a house in Voorbaai, Mossel Bay, on 26 May, captured humanely and released outside.
The spiders were the same type - rain spiders of the Palystes species in the huntsman (Sparassidae) family.
This was confirmed by a spokesperson for the Spider Club of Southern Africa, who was sent photographs of the spiders.
She said: "They are lovely spiders, harmless to people and their domesticated animals."
This rain spider was one of two captured in a house in Voorbaai after heavy rains and released outside. It is a small spider. Rain spiders can grow to be extremely large. Video: Linda Sparg
In an information leaflet provided by the spider club, it notes: "Rain spiders are among our largest spiders. They range in size from 15mm to 40mm. This measurement is body length - omitting leg span. Once they unfold their legs they can span up to 100mm. It is really nice to know they are harmless to humans.
"They are nocturnal, wandering hunters, and do not build webs. Although they normally live in vegetation, they often come indoors at night to hunt insects attracted to our lights which can cause quite a stir because of their impressive size.
"Rain spiders take two or three years to mature and can live for up to four years. Females lay between 50 and 300 eggs in a greyish, cushion-like egg sac."
The homeowner who captured and released the spiders, when told that the spiders were harmless, said he felt even happier than before about saving the spiders. "But even if they were dangerous, I would still rescue them."
The second spider that was captured and released.
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