Humans need spiders to survive. It is important to remember that spiders and other invertebrates – animals without spines – make up 98% of animal species. They are vital to the functioning of ecosystems; without them, the remaining 2% of vertebrates, including humans, could not survive.
Most importantly, spiders play a fundamental role in natural ecosystems – the enormous bulk of spiders support a large proportion of 'insectivorous' animals, and quite a few vertebrate species feed almost exclusively on spiders alone. Birds not only eat spiders but many use spider silk to bind their nests.
Generally, spiders want to avoid humans and will only bite as a defense mechanism if they are provoked. Many are extraordinary at hiding or camouflaging themselves because they don't want to be seen.
It's hardly a rare fear; an estimated 6% of the general population suffer from full-blown arachnophobia. The leading explanation is that our ancestors evolved to fear spiders, and this has been passed on to us.
However, they did not engage in that sort of behavior with non-predator objects. Now, some people have taken this study to mean that spiders feel fear, an emotion. However, stopping and assessing a potential threat and then running away is not the same as fear. It's a reaction wired into their nervous system.
They don't feel 'pain,' but may feel irritation and probably can sense if they are damaged. Even so, they certainly cannot suffer because they don't have emotions.
We've probably all observed insects struggling in a spider's web or writhing after being sprayed with insecticide; they look like they might be in pain. Insects can also learn to avoid electric shocks, suggesting that they don't like being shocked.
“The spiders are probably larger in the urban areas as a result of more food, warmer temperatures (that is, the urban heat island effect) and a relaxation of predation,” Elizabeth says.
Women who run for cover when coming face-to-face with a spider have been offered a new explanation for their phobia: it is in their genes. Research at a US university found females associate the eight-legged critters with fear more than males, most of whom react with indifference.
It's easy to keep spiders away using natural products. These eight-legged creatures hate the smell of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. They also don't like peppermint oils, tea tree oils, eucalyptus, and vinegar. Using any of these around your home will keep spiders away.
An estimated 5 per cent of Australians have arachnophobia, but there are plenty of others happy to get close to the creepy crawlies.
The spider lifespan can vary as much as the spider life cycle. Most spiders live about two years, but some have been known to live up to 20 years when in captivity. Female spiders tend to live longer than male spiders. Many male spiders reach maturity within two years and die after mating.
Spiders do not sleep in the same way that humans do, but like us, they do have daily cycles of activity and rest. Spiders can't close their eyes because they don't have eyelids but they reduce their activity levels and lower their metabolic rate to conserve energy.
Spiders probably evolved about 400 million years ago from thick-waisted arachnid ancestors that were not long emerged from life in water. The first definite spiders, thin-waisted arachnids with abdominal segmentation and silk producing spinnerets, are known from fossils like Attercopus fimbriungus.
Fewer pests destroying crops. Less disease being spread by insects. Fewer bloodsucking insects stinging, biting, and bothering humans.
Even the sight of spiders and snakes makes some people yell and run and women are more likely to get scared than men. Now, a new study has shown that females are genetically predisposed to fear creepy-crawlies and dangerous animals.
The majority of genuine arachnophobes are women, with some studies suggesting as many as 90 per cent of arachnophobes are female. Researchers at the University of New South Wales think female sex hormones could be behind that imbalance.
Arachnophobia is more common in females than males. Although anyone, at any age, can develop a specific phobia, such as arachnophobia, most develop in childhood and adolescence.
In Australia they are only found in the southeastern part of the country, from South Australia to Queensland via Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. You won't find them in the dry and arid zones. On the other hand, huntsman and wolf-spiders are found all over the country.
The Australian funnel-web spiders are among the deadliest spiders in the world in the effect their bites have on humans and our primate relations (although the bite has little effect on dogs and cats). There are many species of funnel-web spiders in Australia but only male Sydney Funnel-webs have caused human deaths.
Scientists have known insects experience something like pain, but new research provides compelling evidence suggesting that insects also experience chronic pain that lasts long after an initial injury has healed.
Leg loss is a common phenomenon in spiders, and according to the species 5% to 40% of the adults can present at least one missing leg. There is no possibility of regeneration after adult moult and the animal must manage with its missing appendages until its death.
To a spider, losing a leg isn't a very big deal. Heck, some even voluntarily castrate themselves. Overall, there's a slight lag in development time. Being short a leg or two (or six) is going to slow you down a bit, which makes prey harder to catch.