WATCH: Giant spider's lightning fast reactions after being fed grasshopper
Arachnophobes are advised to look away now.
Stomach-churning footage of a giant spider pouncing on grasshopper before wrapping it up in its web was uploaded online on Saturday, sparking a wave of reaction from Facebook users in utter disbelief.
Mark Krist, who shared the short clip, can be seen feeding the spider the insect, slowly moving it closer to the motionless arachnid.
As the grasshopper is edged closer, the spider pounces on the insect and with lightning speed begins to wrap its meal up in its web.
The video, shot in Georgia in the US, was inundated with comments from people stunned at the sheer speed and power of the spider.
“Holy s***. That thing could carry someone away,” one startled commenter said.
Dr Dieter Hochuli, of The University of Sydney’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences, told Yahoo7 News the spider was an orb weaver known as the “yellow garden spider”.
“These spiders are sit and wait predators and have to react quickly once the prey gets entangled. The spider could lose the prey if it doesn’t wrap it up quickly. “
Dr Hochuli says even slowing the video down, he failed to spot it administer a bite on the grasshopper, highlighting its great speed.
“It’s common for web builders to have that explosive response to catching prey. They will spend hours waiting motionless in the middle of the web waiting for the opportunity,” he said.
Dr Hochuli revealed the spider was a close relative of the St Andrews Cross Spider, which is common around Sydney, sharing similar behaviours.