A Calgary man found a black widow spider hidden in a bag of red seedless grapes he had eaten for two days after spotting a moving "dark speck." His mother identified the red hourglass marking and later killed the spider humanely. An Olds College entomologist said such discoveries in imported produce (these grapes came from Mexico) are becoming more common, and experts advise inspecting and washing produce and containing — not touching — any suspected spiders.
He Ate Grapes for Two Days — Then Discovered a Black Widow Hidden in the Bunch
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A Calgary man discovered a highly venomous black widow spider tucked inside a bag of red seedless grapes he had been eating for two days, prompting warnings about inspecting produce. The spider was noticed only after Sean Cardiff reached back into the bag and saw what he first thought was a tiny dark speck — until it moved.
"It was like a black spot, and I kind of shook it a little bit, and that little black spot suddenly had legs and started crawling towards my hand," Cardiff told CBC News.
Once Cardiff made sure his children and dog were out of the way and contained the creature, he called his parents. His mother, Linda Hall, secured the spider under a taped glass-on-plate setup and later placed it in the freezer to kill it humanely, according to CBC.
After reviewing photos, Ken Fry, an entomologist at Olds College in Alberta, agreed the specimen was likely a black widow. Because the grapes were shipped from Mexico, Fry said the exact species could not be determined from images alone, but he noted such finds in imported produce are becoming more common.
Fry and other experts say one possible reason is reduced pesticide use in some vineyards, which can leave beneficial predators — including spiders — in the crop. Produce often travels long distances from warm growing regions, and occasional "hitchhikers" can survive the journey inside shipments.
Safety Advice
Although black widow bites are uncommon — Fry emphasized the spiders "are not aggressive" — experts recommend that shoppers inspect and wash fruit and vegetables as soon as they bring them home. If you find a spider in produce, do not touch it directly; instead, contain it in a jar or container. If a black widow is suspected, freezing the sealed container is a commonly advised method to neutralize it safely.
Wildlife and human-wildlife encounters are often influenced by how human activity alters habitats and moves species through trade, as noted in BBC reporting on why animals sometimes come into conflict with people. While unsettling, this incident underscores the importance of simple safety checks when handling imported fresh produce.
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