A web of intrigue: Tarantula skin found contaminated with asbestos in attic... and the beast that shed it could be still around and twice as large

  • Surveyor Katie screamed and fled after seeing big hairy leg
  • 'I hate spiders and I hate them even more now'

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: | Updated:


To most people, even the sight of the smallest of spiders can cause an irrational fear and terror.

But surveyor Katie Parsons-Young has good reason for being petrified after finding the skin of a large tarantula contaminated with asbestos in a darkened attic.

And an arachnid expert warned the beast that shed the skin could still be at large - and possibly twice the size.

Discovered: The skin of what is thought to be a Chilean Rose tarantula was found in the attic of a 19th century house in Cardiff

Discovered: The skin of what is thought to be a Chilean Rose tarantula was found in the attic of a 19th century house in Cardiff

The discovery was made by asbestos specialists Kusten Vorland during a survey of an empty 19th century house at The Parade, in Roath, Cardiff.

Katie, 31, led her team into the pitch-black attic on Tuesday and spotted a large, hairy leg when she lifted one of the floorboards.

She told WalesOnline: 'We moved the lighting to the other area of the attic where I was and could see there was something.

Calm and docile: The Chilean Rose has a sting like a wasp with weak venom according to experts

Calm and docile: The Chilean Rose has a sting like a wasp with weak venom, according to experts

'I was the first in. I sort of saw a leg, screamed and went.'

Most of the team fled after the discovery, but the website reported the skin was later bagged and shown to Cardiff Reptile Centre.

Tarantulas swell in size after shedding, - meaning the spider, believed to be a Chilean Rose Tarantula,  could be around and as big as 7inches in diameter.

Analysis at a laboratory found the skin has traces of mesothelioma - caused by asbestos exposure - thought to be a world-first.

Found in the attic: Laboratory tests have shown the skin of the dead tarantula was contaminated with asbestos

Found in the attic: Laboratory tests have shown the skin of the dead tarantula was contaminated with asbestos

Katie could not face going back to the house after her scary encounter.

She said: 'I was absolutely petrified and couldn’t stop shaking for two hours. It was just horrific. I hate spiders and I hate them even more now.'

If the spider is a Chilean rose tarantula, it is considered a calm and docile creature with weak venom and a bite similar to a bee or wasp sting.

It is not known if the Cardiff tarantula was a lost pet or if there is a breeding population in the area.

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