I don’t mind small spiders, but the big ones terrify me. Especially the ones that you can’t see. You know, the big black ones that build a tangly web and then retreat into a hidden corner somewhere. You may say they’re only interested in eating insects, but I know they’re just waiting for me to move that pot so they can run up my sleeve and attack me! My sister is much worse than me. It would only take a tiny harmless spider to move towards her and she would be taking evasive action.
It is strange, because spiders do fascinate me. I’m intrigued by the intelligence of a creature so small. How do they build such intricate webs? How do they manage to capture and paralise their prey so effectively? Its odd, but I’m not scared of the very big spiders, such as tarantulas. They are slower moving, more like an animal than a fast moving arachnid. I have even considered having one as a pet! Isn’t that strange?
Is there anything I can do to help me conquer this fear? I just don’t like acting odd in front of other guys in a situation where there might be big spiders about!
I had a tarantula in elementary and middle school. It taught me to be unafraid of tarantulas. Now, having sole spider duty in the house, I’ve lost most of my fear by grabbing enough of them with paper towels and dropping them in a nepenthes pitcher plant for a snack, or tossing them out in the yard for the lizards to eat.
Many years ago in summer camp, an even younger kid (maybe 8) found a black widow after messing around in a wood pile in the Ocala National Forest . He was trying to grab it. A: for courage. F: for brains. He thought it wasn’t a black widow because instead of a red hourglass shape it had two parallel red lines on it’s abdomen. :smack: Luckily, I liked to read about spiders and snakes as a kid.
I’m lucky that whatever book I got as a kid had this info, rather than the first three links I clicked when I did a search. Each one talked about the “distinctive hourglass shape.” Which is helpful, if your particular black widow has it.
Other than the widow or recluse, there aren’t many spiders to worry about, well, here.
I can tell you the way a tarantula captures and paralyzes its prey. It senses vibrations mostly. They eye clump on its head isn’t very useful. The taratula lunges forward with surprising speed, fangs out, front legs up. Next, you see legs moving, cricket is engulfed. After that they work some venom in and suck out the juices. Once, my tarantula went around killing all the crickets, wrapped them in webbing, and ate about 8. She was hungry, apparently. I’d free them if she wasn’t interested. Crickets are loud.
Remember that spiders are everywhere and if they wanted to get you they already would have, so you’re safe until their dark overlord in the Earth’s core gives them the order to terminate you.
I’m absolutely terrified of the evil little bastards. These minions of Hell are bent on world domination, I believe. My biggest problem with the octaped monstrosities is the speed with which they will rush me when I get too near, almost as though they can sense my fear. Thus, when I see them, especially inside, I do my very best to get out of their way as quickly as possible. I then call a friend to come and rid my abode of the filthy, degenerate demon.
Yes, I am a guy, and have no problems admitting that I am well aware that any one of these repugnant beasts can best me in a one-on-one battle.