An Austrian grocery store had to be cleared out due to concerns about a spider with a penchant for bananas, which is believed to possess the ability to induce long-lasting erections in males. The Penny store, located in Krems an der Donau, a town situated 45 miles to the west of Vienna, has been shut down since Tuesday following the discovery of a large black and red spider measuring four inches by the store manager, who promptly alerted the fire department.
Emergency responders are apprehensive that the spider, which remains at large, could potentially be a highly poisonous Brazilian Wandering Spider. This type of spider often makes its way to Europe by hitching rides within clusters of bananas.
This arachnid is among the most venomous creatures on Earth; a bite has the potential to lead to death within hours, characterized by symptoms such as extreme coldness, impaired vision, seizures, and occasionally, erections.
An exterminator has been summoned, and assistants have taken steps to seal all of the banana crates within the store. Nevertheless, it is reported that the store will likely remain inaccessible until the following week.
A representative from the Rewe retail group has stated that thorough cleaning and disinfection procedures are currently being implemented to ensure the store can reopen for business.
“The erection is a side effect that everybody who gets stung by this spider will experience along with the pain and discomfort,” Romulo Leite of the Medical College of Georgia told Live Science. “We’re hoping eventually this will end up in the development of real drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.”
