University of Otago zoology student Samuel Purdie (19) with Greta, the female black tunnelweb spider, at the Wild Dunedin New Zealand Festival of Nature headquarters, in Princes St. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

There are two types of people in the world - those who find a spider in the bathtub and use toilet tissue to carefully pick it up and put it outside, and those who light the tissue and burn the entire house down.

Such is people's fears of arachnids.

But it was clear University of Otago zoology student Samuel Purdie was not one of the latter, as he handled Greta, the female black tunnelweb spider (Porrhothele antipodiana) during a display at the Wild Dunedin New Zealand Festival of Nature yesterday.

Greta was found in a large rimu tree in Woodhaugh Gardens at the weekend, and is among many around the city.

"She had a tunnel in there and we managed to gently coax her out.

"In terms of New Zealand spiders, she's definitely the biggest I've held in terms of pure mass and leg span.

"When I first saw her, I was in disbelief and amazement. It was so awesome. I couldn't wait to hold her.''

He said he was not normally "freaked out'' by large spiders, but admitted if he woke up and found a large one on his face, he would probably knock himself out trying to get it off.

"But a lovely girl like Greta - I wouldn't mind her on my face.

"She's pretty relaxed and friendly.''

They are known for building silken tunnel-shaped webs under logs and rocks, and often eat beetles. However, they have been known to eat things as large as snails and mice.

Mr Purdie said black tunnelweb spiders did give painful bites but their venom was not dangerous to humans.

Their bites may cause localised swelling, itching, or numbness, and victims were advised to disinfect the area to reduce the risk of infection.

The spider was the inspiration behind Hollywood film director Peter Jackson's depiction of Shelob in The Lord of the Rings film The Two Towers.

It was a fact Mr Purdie omitted when showing Greta to school children at the Wild Dunedin New Zealand Festival of Nature headquarters in Princes St yesterday.

He said the aim was to turn people from arachnophobes to arachnophiles - people who love spiders instead of squashing them.