Several parts of Murshidabad, Burdwan and Hooghly districts are in the grip of tarantula scare once again, with locals spotting some hairy spiders their areas. A man who is suspected to have been bitten by a tarantula was admitted to a hospital in Murshidabad district on Saturday.

Asim Ghosh, a school teacher, complained to unusual sensations in his hands and legs soon after he came in contact with a spider on Saturday morning at his residence at Nima village under Barwan police station limits, sources said. He was admitted to Kandi sub-divisional hospital. His condition was stated to be stable till last reports came in.

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“We have put the spider in a container. Forest officials have been called in for identification. We suspect that the spider belongs to harmful tarantula species,” said a relative of Ghosh.

Three “tarantula spiders” were spotted in three different locations in Burdwan (East) also on Saturday, which caused panic in the area.

At the daily market in Galsi town, vegetable vendor Nayon Sheikh spotted a spider coming out from under a heap of green vegetables in his shop. His friends from the neighbouring shop assembled and killed the spider.

At Jharna colony in Ausgram, a similar spider was spotted. It was captured and
sent to the local forest range office. In Simlon village of Kalna too, spotting of a hairy spider sparked tarantula scare.

Local residents Palash Garai and Pratita Das said some local youths managed to capture it in a jar that was sent to the Burdwan Forest Divisional office.

In Brahmanpara village in Rajbolhat, Jangipara, an unusually large and hairy spider was spotted in the house of a villager, which added to the tarantula scare. The villager, Gopinath Chakraborty said, “I was inside my house, when a big hairy unusual spider rushed towards my foot. Frightened, I stepped on it. Fearing infection from the poisonous spider, I rushed to doctor. The doctor, however, assured me that there were no marks of any sting or bite on my foot.”

This is not the first time that West Bengal is in the grip of tarantula scare. In the last around two decades, some southwestern and north Bengal districts report a scare almost every alternate year ahead of the monsoon.

According to experts, the eight-legged insects mate during this season.

The experts also believe tarantula bites are not fatal.

“Some tarantula species are found in Bengal but it is simply a myth that their bite could prove fatal. One can fall critically ill only due to secondary infections because of improper treatment. Panic causes more trouble for the victim than the bite itself,” a Hindustan Times report quoted Kailash Chandra, director of the Zoological Survey of India, as saying.

With the spotting of these spiders creating panic among people who are resorting to killing the insects, zoologists are concerned. They say some of the tarantula species are endangered and their killing push the species towards extinction.

“Neither is tarantula aggressive nor is its bite fatal. On the other hand, this spree to kill spiders could have a lasting impact on environment and ecosystem. Ultimately, agriculture will suffer,” the HT report said quoting Tanmay Mahapatra, an epidemiologist and public health researcher.