A tarantula has been spotted on a footpath in Stevenage. (Image: Illyana Bass)
A tarantula has been spotted on a Stevenage footpath by a woman who is "deathly scared of spiders."
A tarantula believed to be a grammostola pulchra - commonly known as a Brazilian black - was seen by Illyana Bass on the footpath between Harvey Road and Faraday Road at about 1.30pm today (Wednesday).
She said: "At first I was taken aback. I took a closer look and all my hairs stood on end when I saw it slowly moving among the leaves."
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Illyana's husband, Matthew, said he "would guess it's an escaped pet," adding that his wife "is deathly scared of spiders."
Although a Brazilian black possesses urticating hairs, they would much rather flee than attack. Their venom is not as irritating as many other species of tarantulas.
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