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Woman left terrified after finding seven inch arachnid in her house

The giant 'harvestman' that was photographed in a house in Cambridge, October 14 2021
The giant 'harvestman' that was photographed in a house in Cambridge, October 14 2021

A woman was left terrified after finding a huge spider-like creature in her house.

The creature, which had made its way into her home, had huge legs measuring seven inches wide.

Despite looking like a spider, the arachnid is actually known as a 'harvestman'.

According to the RSPB, harvestmen are one of the Opilones, a group of arachnids closely related to spiders.

The giant 'harvestman' that was photographed in a house in Cambridge, October 14 2021. See SWNS story SWCAlonglegs. Alina (surname withheld) said she froze when she saw the 7 inch wide creature in her house. The beasty is an Opilones, a group of arachnids closely related to spiders.
A woman photographed the giant 'harvestman' in her house in Cambridge. (SWNS)
Splay-legged harvestman (Dicranopalpus ramosus / Dicranochirus ramosus) in resting posture, with legs stretched to the sides, inside house. (Photo by: Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The harvestman is part of the Opilones, a group of arachnids closely related to spiders. (Getty)

Unlike spiders, harvestmen don't have silk glands so cannot spin webs. They also don't have fangs and do not produce venom, instead catching insect prey by using hooks on the ends of their legs.

Harvestmen defend themselves by secreting a foul-smelling fluid. If they are caught, they are able to shed a leg to escape but if they lose a leg, they do not regrow it like other arachnids

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The woman who found the unwelcome house guest admitted that it was simultaneously impressive and scary.

She said: "When I saw it, I froze. I was worried it might jump at me or move quickly."

She added: "It made me feel itchy and a little bit disgusted.

"I actually think it’s a pretty cool creature, but I definitely wouldn’t like to see one in my house again!"

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