Woman Finds Black Widow Spider in Grapes

[snopes]

Judy Reardon found something unexpected in the four-pound box of grapes she brought home from Costco. Something dangerous.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070720/D8QG2LL80.html

[OptimusShr]

This happened up here a few years ago. This is only the second time I've heard of this happening so it seems rare.

[RBCal]

They put the spider in a museum? I see black widow spiders all the time. I've found them in both my garage and house in the past. They are common in California. Maybe the grapes came from there.

[quiltsbypam]

Originally Posted by RBCal

They put the spider in a museum? I see black widow spiders all the time. I've found them in both my garage and house in the past. They are common in California. Maybe the grapes came from there.

Ok, so I'm a little sleepy now, but the first time I read this I thought you meant the grapes came from your garage.

I assume (and you know what that can lead to) that this is more likely in a box of grapes, as opposed to a bag of grapes. But I can say with perfect confidence that I would have killed that before I'd even gotten a good look at it. Then freaked out after it was dead. Gotta do things in order.

And this is the second Costco-related thread in two days. Bad cosmic ju-ju?

[Eddylizard]

Meh, not the first time, won't be the last.

Grapes from widow zones are routinely gassed with sulphur dioxideto kill the buggers, and each 7-10 kg box is topped with a pad that releases sulphur dioxide during transit (which is supposed to be removed before it goes to the supermarket depot, and there is a big slap on the wrist if you don't) but despite these measures, very infrequently manage to survive. They are usually picked up at the trimming and packing stage.

The last time we had one at work, I learned that you are no longer allowed to kill them if you find a live one (post gassing.) We had to buy her a rather expensive perspex vivarium (correct word?) and send her off to a zoo.

I could tell you the tale of a company I worked for that was brought to it's knees by not investing in sulphur dioxide, but it's too long.

[kitap]

Originally Posted by quiltsbypam

Ok, so I'm a little sleepy now, but the first time I read this I thought you meant the grapes came from your garage.

I assume (and you know what that can lead to) that this is more likely in a box of grapes, as opposed to a bag of grapes. But I can say with perfect confidence that I would have killed that before I'd even gotten a good look at it. Then freaked out after it was dead. Gotta do things in order.

Ahem. Surely you are mistaken. The proper order is:
1) Do a double take.
2) Scream.
3) Run out of the apartment.
4) Call father sobbing hysterically and demand that he come down and kill it immediately.
5) Refuse to reenter apartment until father shows proof it's dead.
6) Spray entire apartment.
7) Never buy grapes again.

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by RBCal

They put the spider in a museum? I see black widow spiders all the time. I've found them in both my garage and house in the past. They are common in California. Maybe the grapes came from there.

It said they took it to a museum. Perhaps they wanted a positive identification. Clever as I'm sure arachnologists are, it is much easier for them to identify a live specimen, than a lump of squdgy mush you peeled off of the sole of your boot.

[TrishDaDish]

"I wanted to destroy her but my husband has been keeping her - cause I don't know why," Reardon said.

Suspected murder plot, anyone?

Trish "It wasn't me - it was the spider, I tells ya! The spider!!" DaDish

[We'veBeenHad]

Originally Posted by RBCal

They put the spider in a museum? I see black widow spiders all the time. I've found them in both my garage and house in the past. They are common in California. Maybe the grapes came from there.

We see them sometimes (and kill them when we do.) They're kind of cool-looking. I thought they weren't especially deadly to humans, though.

[Amigone201]

Originally Posted by We'veBeenHad

We see them sometimes (and kill them when we do.) They're kind of cool-looking. I thought they weren't especially deadly to humans, though.

That could be a deadly mistake to make.

[We'veBeenHad]

Yeah I looked it up after posting; they don't often cause death in humans, relatively speaking. Probably because though the venom is very toxic, they give a very small amount when they bite. http://www.desertusa.com/july97/du_bwindow.html There's a video on here too.

But it's definitely best not to be bitten, ever.