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Are they big? Yup, about 3-1/2 inches across. Big, brown and hairy. Like 10 times as big as a wolf spider.
Are they fast? OH YEAH. Every try to catch lizards? These things chase small lizards down and EAT them. It's a funny thing to see a bug eating a lizard, rather than vice-versa.
At my Dad'd house in the thick live oak forests next to the Indian River, they live in the trees. From time to time, one will crawl down the exhaust fan vents and get into the house.
I warned my wife about them, but nevertheless, on our first visit to my Dad's and I was abruptly awaken by my wife. She was petrified. In the bathroom was one of the biggest bananna spiders I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of them. I grabbed a shoe, and threw.
The spider moved like a flash, and the shoe hit bare wall. Did it again, and again, the spider avoiding the shoe. I finally nailed him, but I had to throw like a pro baseball pitcher.
I can see why they freaked out the sailors of years ago. They kind of freak me out, too.
Still, I get a kick out of eating a bannana with one hand, and hooking a fish with the other. Some laugh, and some get mad, but it is a stupid superstition.
TH
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