# Those who are uncomfortable around spiders, do NOT open this thread! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 31, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589 "2007-08-31T05:10:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/1 "2007-08-31T05:10:38Z")
And if you did, don’t click [this link!](http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spider.web.ap/index.html) And for God’s sake do NOT, under any circumstances, look at [this picture!](http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/US/08/30/spider.web.ap/art.web.ap.jpg) I’m more fascinated than skeeved, and even I feel a little uncomfortable thinking about approaching it! ---
**Author:** ![Penchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Penchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penchan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/2 "2007-08-31T05:26:29Z")
You know, I’m terrified of spiders and yet I’m strangely curious about things like this. Now I’m going to have nightmares about getting caught in there. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/3 "2007-08-31T05:27:08Z")
> [@CNN](#): > > Spider experts say the web may have been constructed by social cobweb spiders, which work together, or could be the result of a mass dispersal in which the arachnids spin webs to spread out from one another. Oh, sure. I note these so-called “experts” are clearly trying to cover up the _obvious_ explanation: The giant spider web was made by a giant spider! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/4 "2007-08-31T05:33:18Z")
That picture reminds me of the spiders’ webs in John Wyndham’s posthumously published novel, [Web.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_%28novel%29) ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Samaritan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bad\_Samaritan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Samaritan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/5 "2007-08-31T05:33:55Z")
You should probably also caution arachnophobes not to do a search for “spider bites” on Youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/6 "2007-08-31T06:59:16Z")
Those are conifers, aren’t they? Looks more like the work of the Pine Processionary Moth to me - or some other tent caterpillar ([compare](http://user.it.uu.se/~svens/larverna/12-cykel_vid_trad.jpg)) ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/7 "2007-08-31T12:47:01Z")
As long as they are eating mosquitoes, this is GOOD! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/8 "2007-08-31T13:00:14Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Those are conifers, aren’t they? Looks more like the work of the Pine Processionary Moth to me - or some other tent caterpillar ([compare](http://user.it.uu.se/~svens/larverna/12-cykel_vid_trad.jpg)) [/QUOTE] That’s worse than the other pics. At least you can walk away from the evil forest preserve. My god, I’d have to torch my bike! I once saw these enormous bag-like nesty coccoony things hanging from a tree. They look like spiderweb material. My friend called it a bagworm infestation, but the pictures I find of bagworms are nothing like what I saw. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Can anyone find a picture? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/9 "2007-08-31T13:21:21Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Those are conifers, aren’t they? Looks more like the work of the Pine Processionary Moth to me - or some other tent caterpillar ([compare](http://user.it.uu.se/~svens/larverna/12-cykel_vid_trad.jpg)) [/QUOTE] I agree. I don’t think that this is the work of an arachnid. The “web” looks very much like the cocoon I found in my friend’s tree. There were these caterpillar-like things crawling around inside of it. I’m not really amused with insects but that picture is pretty damn cool. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/10 "2007-08-31T15:19:40Z")
I think spiders are cool, and I fricking HATE mosquitoes, so personally I think that’s about the best thing I’ve seen all day. Die, mosquitoes, die a screaming death! I really hate mosquitoes. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/11 "2007-08-31T16:30:50Z")
Did you see [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=434833) neat topic, started yesterday? 😉 🙂 ETA: In a different forum. :o ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/12 "2007-08-31T17:24:15Z")
[QUOTE=Tapiotar] As long as they are eating mosquitoes, this is GOOD! [/QUOTE] As long as they stay in Texas, this is GOOD! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/13 "2007-08-31T17:38:48Z")
[QUOTE=linked article] There are times you can literally hear the screech of millions of mosquitoes caught in those webs [/QUOTE] Kick ASS! Go get 'em spiders! ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/14 "2007-08-31T19:50:06Z")
Just to give a [more complete picture](http://user.it.uu.se/~svens/larverna/normal.html) to the tent caterpillar infestation that mangetout had linked, they covered a HUGE area… I’m not going near either place ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/15 "2007-08-31T19:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=MsWhatsit] Die, mosquitoes, die a screaming death! [/QUOTE] Well, a buzzing death anyway. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/16 "2007-08-31T19:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=cantara] Just to give a [more complete picture](http://user.it.uu.se/~svens/larverna/normal.html) to the tent caterpillar infestation that mangetout had linked, they covered a HUGE area… I’m not going near either place [/QUOTE] Yup, that’s what I saw in my neighbors tree. How can something so disgustingly horrifying also be that beautiful? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/17 "2007-09-01T21:06:31Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] Did you see [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=434833) neat topic, started yesterday? 😉 🙂 ETA: In a different forum. :o [/QUOTE] No. How could I have, despite my diligent searching? It didn’t even mention spiders ONCE in the ENTIRE THREAD! And that completely astonishes me! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/18 "2007-09-02T02:26:15Z")
No one has mentioned the added attraction of tent caterpillar-infested trees(warning, may be TMI for some): The little buggers fall out of the trees. On your head. Like a slow rain of caterpillars. I discovered this hiking in Calf Creek falls, where the trail winds along under a forest of cottonwoods. It really freaked me out initially, but I then I stopped just to watched and listen. Pretty amazing, really. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/19 "2007-09-02T03:03:53Z")
I like caterpillars, but that creeped me out. It LOOKS really neat, but to live with it…ugh. The Texas spiders–they seem really cool. I heard on NPR that the entire web(s) which is about 200 yards across hums–the sound of trapped mosquitos, dying. There is no more beautiful sound in the woods… ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589/20 "2007-09-02T05:02:31Z")
[QUOTE=blondebear] No one has mentioned the added attraction of tent caterpillar-infested trees(warning, may be TMI for some): The little buggers fall out of the trees. On your head. Like a slow rain of caterpillars. I discovered this hiking in Calf Creek falls, where the trail winds along under a forest of cottonwoods. It really freaked me out initially, but I then I stopped just to watched and listen. Pretty amazing, really. [/QUOTE] I wonder how big of a _squish_ you could make if you waited for a pile and stomped on them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-who-are-uncomfortable-around-spiders-do-not-open-this-thread/417589.md?page=2)