Published:
5:56 PM April 6, 2021
One of the boards about East Anglian Drop Spiders which appeared on Mousehold Heath on April Fool s Day.
- Credit: Dan Grimmer
Signs for an elaborate prank about drop spider introduced at a Norwich beauty spot have been removed.
The professional looking boards said the East Anglian Drop Spider (Araneaus occumbo) has been introduced into the Norwich woodland.
Many were quick to note the boards appeared in time for April Fool s Day - a sigh of relief for arachnophobes.
A Norwich City Council spokesman said they were not aware of any complaints being made about the prank but confirmed the signs have now been removed.
Waiting for movement on the ground layer, the drop spider typically looks for gaps or crevices into which it can drop, wiggle and hide away in wait for its prey. An open bag, pocket or loose clothing near the nape of the neck can often be mistaken by the drop spider as a safe place to land and has, in the past, been a source of conflict amongst humans and these generally gentle creatures. Although their bite can be incredibly painful, they only do so when provoked and there have been no fatal cases in the last 100 years.
The information board shows pictures purporting to be from medieval times.