Deadly spider that causes hours-long erections shuts down supermarket
The store is undergoing thorough cleaning before reopening next week.
A deadly spider capable of causing painful hours-long erections forced a supermarket to close its doors last week after crawling out of a box of produce.
The manager of the PENNY shop in a town just outside of Vienna spotted the Brazilian wandering spider — measuring about 10cms in length — on Tuesday morning as he opened a box of bananas, Austrian publication NÖN reports.
The high-venomous arachnid, also called a ‘banana spider’, is known for hiding in the fruit’s plants and has previously been named the world’s most venomous spider by the Guinness World Records multiple times.
Their bites — although rare — can cause extreme pain, a drop or increase in blood pressure, change in heart rate, nausea, stomach cramps, blurred vision and hours-long erections, Live Science reports. Medical attention should be sought immediately.
Spider vanishes for days
It’s believed the supermarket’s non-native visitor hitched a ride with the goods as a “stowaway”. The manager called authorities for help, but by the time the fire department arrived, the spider had disappeared.
All other boxes of bananas were sealed with plastic and removed from the store, which closed its doors until the hitchhiker was finally found days later, NÖN reports.
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The Rewe retail group, which operates PENNY, said in a statement “comprehensive cleaning and disinfection measures” were underway and the location will be reopened next week, according to The Independent.
“All measures are for safety and are carried out meticulously so that the branch can be reopened,” the retailer said.
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