Arachnophobes Beware: Spiders' Massive Webs Take Over Part Of Texas Park

[Dr. Howard]

Just dropping this totally unthreatening wonder of nature here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballooning_(spider)

fuck ballooning spiders. One warm day this fall I went outside to do battle with the hordes of spiderlings using my house as a launching and/or landing point and it was like spiderman was shooting webs all of the place.

I am with zel, that my home is my home and I do not share it. The insects can live outside of the chemical wasteland of pesticides that perimeter my home.

 

[Paracelsus]

C'mon, fellas, I know you all shit your pants during this part of Arachnophobia.

 

[wi30]

Got the first snowfall of the season last night. Fuck spiders and fuck having to spend 70 bucks for flea and tick medicine for my dog.

I'm so glad I don't live down south anymore.

 

[Hardy Daytona]

C'mon, fellas, I know you all shit your pants during this part of Arachnophobia.

[attachment=28839]

 

[Paracelsus]

 

[The Beast1]

Sorry i'm late guys!

F*ck spiders.

 

[sophiewilson0191]

Amazing and creepy, but its nature.
They are ballooning.

https://www.evolving-science.com/bioengineering/ballooning-spiders-scientists-00716

 

[wi30]

I wouldn't cross under that web:

I heard once that it's possible our basic fear of spiders stems from something very primal in our evolutionary cycle. Back when CO2 levels and temperatures were much higher (and humans could still survive there and prosper even better by the way) spider were massive:

A spider the size of a large dog would be indeed an incredibly dangerous predator, since their speed, strength and poison would make them some of the most lethal killers ever. Also their alien look and eating habits of capturing prey and liquidating them alive is much worse than what a dinosaur would do to you.

Also - we should not have any false sentimatily towards nature. If you leave nature free will, then it will kill you. We create houses and more habitable areas so that we can live in peace - we even invite friendly animals like cats and dogs into our houses. Nature first and foremost is a lethal killer.

I seriously doubt there were "large dog sized spiders" anywhere remotely relative to human history or any period of time for that matter.

Humans have an evolutionary fear of spiders, snakes, etc. because they are poisonous and kill people. Not because 120 lb spiders roamed the earth 100,000 years ago with our hunter/gatherer ancestors.

 

[Paracelsus]

I seriously doubt there were "large dog sized spiders" anywhere remotely relative to human history or any period of time for that matter.

Humans have an evolutionary fear of spiders, snakes, etc. because they are poisonous and kill people. Not because 120 lb spiders roamed the earth 100,000 years ago with our hunter/gatherer ancestors.

Well, hey, there's a good way to test your theory. Let's just kill every spider we see. If your theory is right, none of their offspring will evolve into bigger creatures in order to better survive. If not...

 

[YoungBlade]

I wouldn't cross under that web:

I heard once that it's possible our basic fear of spiders stems from something very primal in our evolutionary cycle. Back when CO2 levels and temperatures were much higher (and humans could still survive there and prosper even better by the way) spider were massive:

A spider the size of a large dog would be indeed an incredibly dangerous predator, since their speed, strength and poison would make them some of the most lethal killers ever. Also their alien look and eating habits of capturing prey and liquidating them alive is much worse than what a dinosaur would do to you.

Also - we should not have any false sentimatily towards nature. If you leave nature free will, then it will kill you. We create houses and more habitable areas so that we can live in peace - we even invite friendly animals like cats and dogs into our houses. Nature first and foremost is a lethal killer.

I seriously doubt there were "large dog sized spiders" anywhere remotely relative to human history or any period of time for that matter.

Humans have an evolutionary fear of spiders, snakes, etc. because they are poisonous and kill people. Not because 120 lb spiders roamed the earth 100,000 years ago with our hunter/gatherer ancestors.

How dare you disrespect Jeff Corwin, celebrity zoologist and victim of a Megarachne attack!

(starts at 12:10)

 

[Dr Mantis Toboggan]

I kill black widows and brown recluses on sight; fortunately they are not real common where I live.

With other spiders I'm extremely lenient; I usually leave them alone or at most catch them in a jar and release them outside.

I lived for years in an old mansion in New Orleans. Between all the cracks and passages in walls and the swampy climate it was thoroughly colonized by spiders, including some huge ones. My cat and I lived in harmony with the spiders and they were such effective exterminators I never had to spray for insects. I spent many evenings reading in my living room overwatched by my allies, who learned they could sit in the open in complete safety. Sometimes when in bed one would crawl onto my arm, leg or face and I would brush it off.

I was never bitten.

This is how I am. Widows and recluses get smushed, others usually get left alone to eat mosquitoes and flies and other actually harmful bugs. The exception being if there's one in the shower with me (grew up in an old house and my mom still lives there, so happens all the time when I'm visiting her), fuck that.