http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,25438020-421,00.htmlGIANT spiders have invaded the North Queensland city of Bowen
For about six weeks, residents have reported seeing huge bird-eating spiders crawling around their backyards and gardens.
Amalgamated Pest Control Bowen pest technician Audy Geiszler took a photo showing the size of one of the spiders he caught wandering across the garden of a restaurant near the town's centre.
Mr Geiszler estimated its body alone was 5cm long, a specimen declared "especially large" by the Queensland Museum.
Most grow to be the size of a man's hand.
"It was found in a public area, just wandering around the garden areas. It's a bit scary for the people," Mr Geiszler said.
While at this stage there had only been about five sightings of the giant spiders, Mr Geiszler said it was unusual to see that many in such a short period.
"Normally they live in and around gardens and that type of thing," he said.
"They are very shy. They normally never venture out too far but obviously these ones have been flushed out for some reason.
"It's more than enough to scare a few people. It's not plague proportions or anything.
"That in itself is unusual because you don't normally see these species out in the open."
Subject: Giant bird-eating spiders invade town 
May 6th 2009, 10:32 am
