The tube web spider is one of only a handful of British species with fangs long enough to pierce human skin. <\/p>

The tube web spider (Segestria florentina<\/em>) is a spectacular beast. Its body length can measure up to 22mm, making it one of the biggest spiders in the UK<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Its chelicerae (fanged mouthparts), often described as shining bottle green, are its most distinctive feature, and usually all that is visible when it is inside its hideaway, normally a hole in an old wall.<\/p>\n

The long, radiating strands of its web act like trip wires, alerting the spider to passing prey. When it detects movement, it rushes out and pounces.<\/p>\n

S. florentina<\/em> is a very aggressive species and will bite violently at anything inserted into its tunnel retreat, including pencils, twigs and fingers.<\/p>\n

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There is no need to worry, though \u2013 this is a secretive and reclusive creature. It is uncommon and currently restricted to southern Britain, usually ports and market towns, and its venomous bite is said to be painful, but not dangerous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Why are people scared of spiders?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
World\u2019s most venomous spiders: Are these deadly spiders as fearsome as their reputation?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
10 biggest spiders in the world<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
Meet the purse-web spider, Britain\u2019s tarantula<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Main image \u00a9 Luis Miguel Bugallo S\u00e1nchez (Lmbuga Commons)(Lmbuga Galipedia), CC BY-SA 2.5 ES <https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.5\/es\/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n
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