Bigger Spiders are here! (apparently)

Atlantia · Post by **Atlantia** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:25 am

An article in the Daily Mail (UK) today, reported that the eight legged horrors are bigger this year, due to a mild winter last year, and a hot summer this year.

I always thought house spiders were big enough, so what size are they talking about? I'd dread to think!

The article in the Mail, however, seems to be praising the nasty critters! It concludes with 'If global warming means more, bigger and better-fed spiders, it is one consequence we should welcome. Bless their eight beautiful legs.' I don't think so!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:28 am

Nasty!! That's the last thing we need here. You are right common house spiders are big enough, so anything larger is certainly not welcome. Hmmm I had better not tell my mum this, otherwise she will want to leave the country hehehe.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:32 am

Glad that is not true over here!

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:37 am

Spiders don't want to hurt anyone...they just want to catch and eat nasty flies. You know flies? Those things that eat garbage and feces and spread germs with their sticky little feet? Yes..those things!

Now...given a choice....I'd take a house with spiders over a house with flies any day!

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:37 am

So bigger is not better then...:sneaky:

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:38 am

You make a good point there Lulu, but I would still rather have a house free of both!!

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:41 am

It's interesting how some creatures just give people the willies....snakes, bats & spiders! All of them get bad press and quietly do good works for us...we just have this FEAR thing going!

I'm convinced that, somewhere deeeeeeep down in the old primitive part of our brains, something still lives which whispers in our ears and says "be careful of snakes and spiders, because they can hurt you."

I LOVE to show the tarantulas we have at the zoo! They're so light you can hardly feel them on the palm of your hand...gentle creatures which feel like a whisper on your skin.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:40 am

And I'll bet BORIS killed lots of yucky flies for you, too....

Good boy, Boris! GOOD BOY! :wah:

ARgi · Post by **ARgi** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:44 am

Lulu2 wrote: It's interesting how some creatures just give people the willies....snakes, bats & spiders! All of them get bad press and quietly do good works for us...we just have this FEAR thing going!

I'm convinced that, somewhere deeeeeeep down in the old primitive part of our brains, something still lives which whispers in our ears and says "be careful of snakes and spiders, because they can hurt you."

I LOVE to show the tarantulas we have at the zoo! They're so light you can hardly feel them on the palm of your hand...gentle creatures which feel like a whisper on your skin.

and bees too, they are really harmless.

without them we would not have flowers

ARgi · Post by **ARgi** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:45 am

Pinky wrote: We get some HYUUUUGE ones around here.

I had one a while back..I named him Boris. He was the size of my palm, you could even see how hairy he was from across the room.

*shiver* the only thing i'm afraid of is spiders! eeeeew...they do a good job of killing pests but keep them away from me.

ARgi · Post by **ARgi** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:50 am

Pinky wrote: Aw, he was quite sweet really!

Now moths are a different matter...they are born from the devil's anus.

the butterflies of the night ...what's not to love?

ARgi · Post by **ARgi** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:51 am

Pinky wrote: Aw, he was quite sweet really!

what did you feed him? are we talking about a tarantula here?

Atlantia · Post by **Atlantia** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:52 am

I've always been terrified of spiders, except when I was on holiday in Arizona. I went to a barbeque, where they had some tarantulas in glass tanks. Later in the evening, they let people handle the rather scary looking beasties. I felt brave, and wanted to overcome my fear. I was given 'Harry' to hold, and crawl over my hands. He wasn't that bad, he was just crawling about, didn't bite or anything. After a while, I handed him back, and felt pretty pleased with myself. No more aracnophobia! Cured? Not exactly, back home I'm just the same as before.

ARgi · Post by **ARgi** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:55 am

Pinky wrote: Just an overly large house spider! I have a pic of him somewhere...I'll have a rummage around and find it in a sec.

He was pretty good and found his own food...Boris the self-catering spiddy!

this should be interesting.

ARgi · Post by **ARgi** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:58 am

Atlantia wrote: I've always been terrified of spiders, except when I was on holiday in Arizona. I went to a barbeque, where they had some tarantulas in glass tanks. Later in the evening, they let people handle the rather scary looking beasties. I felt brave, and wanted to overcome my fear. I was given 'Harry' to hold, and crawl over my hands. He wasn't that bad, he was just crawling about, didn't bite or anything. After a while, I handed him back, and felt pretty pleased with myself. No more aracnophobia! Cured? Not exactly, back home I'm just the same as before.

the little ones can sometimes be scarier than the big ones and they don't have the 'just a pet' title like tarantulas... you are brave...i would never handle a big hairy tarantula. just looking at the beady eyes, big fangs, and irrrrr...icky.

ARgi · Post by **ARgi** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:59 am

Pinky wrote:

It's not particularly clear, but here he is!

did you ever handle him?

Atlantia · Post by **Atlantia** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:02 am

ARgi wrote: the little ones can sometimes be scarier than the big ones and they don't have the 'just a pet' title like tarantulas... you are brave...i would never handle a big hairy tarantula. just looking at the beady eyes, big fangs, and irrrrr...icky.

I guess, Harry was a sort of pet, and I was told he was used to being handled and didn't bite. If I saw a tarantula crawling along elsewhere, I would probably freak!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:30 am

Well thankfully we don't get that many spiders here. Ants on the other hand, now they are a problem, what I wouldn't give for an anteater during the summer months!!

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:55 am

Pinky wrote:

It's not particularly clear, but here he is!

Oh Lord he looks like a vicious bugger, better call out the Marines:rolleyes:

Better evacuate London:D

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:17 pm

I thought about this thread while I was handling the Madagascar hissing cockroaches at the zoo today! I ALMOST took out the pink-toed tarantula, but she's making a web so I left her alone.

Boris is a handsome spider, Pinks!

I was showing Vietnamese Walking Sticks today....you'll like this....over 90% of them are female! Males appear to be evolving out because the girls don't need them! They lay fertile eggs....which are essentially CLONES of themselves.

Interesting process, eh? It's called PARTHENOGENESIS and there are some lizards in Texas who can do it, too. It's not necessarily good for genetic diversity, but it works when males are few & far between!

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:03 pm

I HATE SPIDERS. HATE, HATE, HATE THEM! Give me flies any day! I swing a mean fly swatter. Spiders are mean, evil, vicious creatures. Their bites can land you in the hospital and leave nasty scars.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:14 pm

PEG, PEG, PEG! I know how you feel...I honestly do. I'd like to spend a day with you at our zoo.

NOBODY was ever more afraid of snakes, bugs & bats as I...nobody! I could help....

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:20 pm

My husband and son love to throw objects up in the air above my head to watch bats swoop down and you wonder why I fear them? :wah:

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:50 pm

So? TURN THE HOSE ON YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR SON!

:wah:

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:10 pm

I don't mind spiders as long as they keep their distance. I even had a pet tarantula at one time. However the shower is off limits. I'm surprised I haven't landed myself in hospital from slipping and falling during one of my fits of finding a spider in the shower with me. :rolleyes:

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:23 pm

LOL...I visited my Aunt Radna in Tampa and enjoyed a visit of several days. On the second day, I saw a HUGE spider in the shower, which, unfortunately, I accidently swept down the drain.

My dear aunt said...."Be careful in there....we've got a spider living in the shower."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS! :p

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:09 pm

Lulu2 wrote: So? TURN THE HOSE ON YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR SON!

:wah:
Oh I do like the way you think!:wah:

Atlantia · Post by **Atlantia** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:43 am

helefra wrote: I hate spiders, I have to get my partner to get rid of 'em out of the house. I'm that afraid of them, that if I see a big spider crossing the road or pavement, I will stop for a moment in fear. Pretty stupid really but for some reason I just can't stand 'em. However, they do their job of eating the nasty insects that bring all those germies. I would never kill a spider though.

I think I saw a movie which was about spiders that grew gigantic, I wish I could remember the title of that film.

I found the film rather funny and very good but the real scary large spider I saw was the one in the final film of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King - that one had me screaming while I was in the cinema.:yh_giggle

An old film where spiders grew giagantic was probably 'The Giant Spider Invasion' a film made in the 70's, which has a HUGE spider the size of a house, at the end. Pretty daft film, from what I can remember.

I hate the things! Apparently conkers will deter spiders from entering a room. I have a few on the floor behind the sofa, bedside tables etc.

I stayed in Australia for a while a few years ago; I saw some beasties there!

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:45 am

Pinky wrote: I found him again earlier in the spare room!

He's stalking you Pinky, he is intelligent and wishes you ill!!!:sneaky:

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:55 am

I'm not a lover of spiders, specially if they walk towards me. I try the old jam jar and card trick and put them in the garden, but they always come back in doors.

I am not overly keen on them getting bigger *shudders* .....I think I might get just a tad hostile towards them if you get my meaning.....:sneaky:

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 7:57 am

Zinky's avatar creeps me out.:wah:

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:00 am

Peg wrote: Zinky's avatar creeps me out.:wah:

O great now were gonna pick on bats:mad:

LOL:wah:

Atlantia · Post by **Atlantia** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:31 am

zinkyusa wrote: O great now were gonna pick on bats:mad:

LOL:wah:

Awww, bats are so cute!

I'd sooner see more bats around this time of year, than spiders. At least bats don't hide behind bookcases waiting to frighten the living daylights out of an unsuspecting arachnophobe!

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:35 am

Atlantia wrote:

Awww, bats are so cute!

I'd sooner see more bats around this time of year, than spiders. At least bats don't hide behind bookcases waiting to frighten the living daylights out of an unsuspecting arachnophobe!

The bats of the world are grateful to you.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:30 am

Driving down a country road in Nepal, I saw a tree literally covered with sleeping fruit bats! I got so excited I had the driver stop so I could take video of them. They're very lovely.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:03 pm

And rightly so every time I see and spider, snake, or bat they are moving realllllly fast coming right at me...

[QUOTE]snakes, bats & spiders! All of them get bad press and quietly do good works for us...we just have this FEAR thing going![/QUOTE]

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 8:40 pm

Lulu2 wrote: Driving down a country road in Nepal, I saw a tree literally covered with sleeping fruit bats! I got so excited I had the driver stop so I could take video of them. They're very lovely.
You took a video of them on purpose? They are lovely?:-2

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:56 am

I think bats are great. I got to see hundreds of them when I visited Chester Zoo, as they have their own bat cave, and you were able to walk right through, and watch them. One even touched my head as it flew above me. Even the little kids that were there seemed to love the experience too!

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:42 am

Like winged kitties..

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:27 am

PEG this isn't the BEST photo I can find but it does show that fruit bats are lovely ... they call them "flying foxes." They're BIG...about the size of a sea gull and they're lovely amber-to-chocolate brown.

http://whozoo.org/students/dansch/fruitbat.htm

http://www.mnzoo.com/animals/tropics_trail/fbat_1.asp