A Brazilian wandering spider, also known as the Banana spider capable of causing a permanent erection in men, has been spotted in a supermarket in Australia.
The supermarket located in Krems an der Donau has remained closed since Tuesday following an evacuation and an exterminator called in, Dailymail reports.
Authorities also confirm that banana packages have been sealed and the store closed, since Tuesday.
The venomous four-inch black and red spider is believed to have travelled to Europe hiding in packages of bananas.
A spokesman for the Rewe retail group, confirming the incident, said that ‘comprehensive cleaning and disinfection measures’ are ongoing for the reopening of the store sometime next week.
Authorities have also disclosed that, “Despite an extensive search, no spiders have been found to date” and that the size and colour of the ‘unidentifiable’ spider led them to believe it was a Brazilian Wandering Spider’.
The spider is one of Earth’s most deadly creatures. Its bites are believed to be fatal and can cause erection in some people as well as hypothermia, blurred vision, and convulsion.
According to LiveScience, the Brazilian wandering spider belongs to the genus Phoneutria, which means “murderess” in Greek.
It was described as one of the most venomous spiders on Earth, adding, “ Its bite, which delivers neurotoxic venom, can be deadly to humans, especially children, although antivenom makes death unlikely.
“Guinness World Records has previously named the Brazilian wandering spider the world’s most venomous spider multiple times (though the current record-holder is the Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus, according to Guinness).
“There are nine species of Brazilian wandering spider, all of which are nocturnal and can be found in Brazil. Some of the species also can be found throughout Central and South America, from Costa Rica to Argentina, according to a 2008 article in the journal American Entomologist.”
