Is this a new super deadly spider? UNL professor says not so much

Pictures of an alleged new super "deadly spider" have been making the rounds on social media. 

A Facebook post showing photos of the so-called "spider from hell" has been shared over 1.2 million times.

The post claims the spider is responsible for five deaths in recent weeks, and that the U.S. government is working on an anti-venom. 

It seems far-fetched, but a legitimate University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Entomology logo in the corner of one of the photos has given some pause.

But James Kalisch from the department says there’s no reason to be concerned – and that post is nothing more than a hoax. 

Kalisch says the spider is officially called the Woodlouse Spider, Dysdera crocata, although it is legitimate to call it a pillbug hunters as well.

The spider’s long, sharp fangs are very muscular and used to extract prey from crevices as well as to penetrate their exoskeleton.

Kalisch says the spider may appear menacing, but it is not aggressive and runs away when exposed.

He says it is not poisonous as the hoax social media posts indicate.

With humans, reaction to its venom is much like a bee or wasp sting where there may be pain, redness and swelling around the bite area.

Kalisch says it’s likely the posters found the image with the official logo online somewhere, and says the department has gotten dozens of calls about it. 

He says, while frustrating, there is absolutely no validity to the claims in the social media post.