Spiders (Araneae) Found in Bananas and Other International Cargo Submitted to North American Arachnologists for Identification

Abstract

Spiders found in international cargo brought into North America are sometimes submitted to arachnologists for identification. Often, these spiders are presumed to be of medical importance because of size or a submitter's familiarity with a toxic spider genus from the continent of origin. Starting in 2006, requests were made for spiders found in international cargo brought into North America, in addition to the specimens from similar cargo shipments already in our museum collections. This was an ad hoc study that allowed us to focus on spiders of concern to the discoverer. We identified 135 spiders found in international cargo. A key for the most common species is provided. The most frequently submitted spiders were the pantropical huntsman spider, Heteropoda venatoria (L.) (Sparassidae), and the redfaced banana spider, Cupiennius chiapanensis Medina Soriano (Ctenidae). Spiders of medical importance were rare. The most common cargo from which spiders were submitted was bananas with most specimens coming from Central America, Ecuador, or Colombia. Lack of experience with nonnative fauna caused several experienced American arachnologists to misidentify harmless ctenid spiders (C. chiapanensis, spotlegged banana spider, Cupiennius getazi Simon) as highly toxic Phoneutria spiders. These misidentifications could have led to costly, unwarranted prophylactic eradication measures, unnecessary employee health education, heightened employee anxiety and spoilage when perishable goods are left unloaded due to safety concerns.

Unwelcome exchange: International trade as a direct and indirect driver of biological invasions worldwide

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How dispersal rates depend on the prey capture strategy: A case study of Georgia's spiders

“…Some species are found far beyond the western Eurasia, for instance, in North America. However, the North American samples may shadow general patterns of isolation‐by‐distance, especially if one considers their possible recent relocation by humans (Dondale & Redner, 1990 ; Emerton, 1902 ; Ivie, 1969 ; Keyserling, 1886 ; Vetter et al., 2014 ; WSC, 2024 ). For this reason, we did not include these samples in the analyses described above, but discuss them separately.…”

New data on introduced and rare synanthropic spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) in Poland (II)

“…The species is widely distributed in South and Central America, known as "banana spider", although this colloquial term is also applicable to other spider species (e.g., Phoneutria spp., Heteropoda spp. ), several times introduced into North America (34,97). It inhabits different forest environments and scrubs, often near buildings and orchards, banana plants and fruit trees (34).…”