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For the almost 1 in 4 Americans harboring a fear of spiders, finding a tarantula in your suitcase post-vacation would be your worst nightmare. But that happened to one unlucky traveler, whose eight-legged stowaway became an internet sensation.
In a video shared to TikTok on July 2, U.K.-based user @georgiahsx can be seen visiting her local RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) branch to ask for help with her unexpected guest. The assistant behind the desk is on the phone, presumably asking an expert what to do next, while laughing hysterically.
The video then cuts to a clip of the tarantula crawling out of a pile of clothes on Georgia's floor before hiding under a cupboard. The post has since received almost 50,000 likes and more than 1,800 shares in just two days.
In the caption, Georgia wrote: "'Hi RSPCA, I think I may have brought a tarantula in my suitcase home with me from Cyprus." It appears she was right, with many spider fans offering assistance in the comments.
"Get on a spider group in The UK," suggested laurajaynepaterson. "Someone will come and get the spider."
"My partner and I keep tarantulas, if you still have it we'd be interested!" said Sarah.
"Make sure to keep it at about 30 degrees and give it a shallow water bowl, it's probably stressed from the flight which could trigger a moult and if it is dehydrated it can cause issues/death."
According to a YouGov poll, spiders are America's third most common fear, with 24 percent of U.S. citizens spooked by the creepy crawlies. Still, arachnids couldn't compete with snakes, which took the top spot at 30 percent. A large number of Americans - 28 percent - are also afraid of heights, making it the country's second-biggest scare factor.
A 2021 study attempted to discover why so many humans are afraid of spiders. Researchers digitally manipulated an image of a spider to create five new images. Each new image enhanced a different aspect of its body—eyes, abdomen, body hair, chelicerae (pincer-like claws located near the mouth) and legs.
Scientists then asked people to rate how scared or disgusted they were by each image. Enlarged chelicerae and abdomen (such as the False Widow Spider) caused the greatest fear response, while chelicerae and hairy bodies elicited the most disgust. Surprisingly, large eyes and long legs scored the lowest on both fear and disgust (although this video may prove otherwise).
While a fear of spiders may seem silly to some, a recent study found evidence that snake and spider venom could be more dangerous than initially thought. Published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum, researchers suggested amending the way bites are treated to prevent infection, which occurs in 75 percent of cases annually worldwide.
Many users were horrified by the sneaky arachnid, with LeanneS reconsidering their planned Cyprus vacation.
"They have tarantulas in Cyprus?! That's off the list," she wrote.
Bellelouiseee agreed, writing: "Going to cyprus end of this week and ngl I've never been so scared in my life."
"I would move out, house belongs to the tarantula now," said user9333009949183.
Elli Lloyd commented: "I'd genuinely have a heart attack and die."
Others who had recently returned from vacation joked about not opening their suitcases after seeing the video.
"Nope my suitcase is staying locked," said c.routledge97.
"Still have to unpack my suitcase am now putting it off even more," wrote ?.
However, the escapee did have a few fans, with Tony dubbing the arachnid "a beauty."
"So cute and fuzzy" wrote Shelley.
"My idea of heaven," said Golden girthy boy. "He'd be mine."
Newsweek has reached out to @georgiahsx for comment.
About the writer
Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more