Spiders

[Bill W]

6 hours ago, Valkyrie said:

@Zombie What. Have. You. Done?    

 

 And it had a guest spot on The Walking Dead. 

[Drew Espinosa]

18 hours ago, Bill W said:

I'd check every pair I owned.  

It's a habit of mine that I always check my shoes for spiders.

[Bill W]

59 minutes ago, Drew Espinosa said:

It's a habit of mine that I always check my shoes for spiders.

Me too, since this area is know for the brown recluse. 

[sandrewn]

 

In some locations such as Cambodia Spiders are considered to be a delicacy. People will hunt them in order to create various types of dishes with them. It isn’t fully known which of the species they will use and what they will avoid.

There are also people that love to keep exotic creatures such as Spiders as pets. Tarantula is one species that seems to be very fitting of this. Yet these creatures aren’t met to be in captivity and they can become very aggressive if they are in stressful living conditions.

 

@Bill W @Drew Espinosa

I am going to go out on a limb here and venture that neither of you are part of the two groups mentioned above

 

[Bill W]

 

 

What would you do if this was in YOUR neighborhood? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bill W]

3 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

In some locations such as Cambodia Spiders are considered to be a delicacy. People will hunt them in order to create various types of dishes with them. It isn’t fully known which of the species they will use and what they will avoid.

There are also people that love to keep exotic creatures such as Spiders as pets. Tarantula is one species that seems to be very fitting of this. Yet these creatures aren’t met to be in captivity and they can become very aggressive if they are in stressful living conditions.

 

@Bill W @Drew Espinosa

I am going to go out on a limb here and venture that neither of you are part of the two groups mentioned above

 

Definitely not.  If I had to rely on spiders as food, I'd become a vegetarian, and as far as a pet, I think I'll still to dogs and cats.  

[sandrewn]

58 minutes ago, Bill W said:

 

 

What would you do if this was in YOUR neighborhood? 

 

 

 

Oh......, I do so like it when I am asked a really, really, truly and easy to answer question and my Answer is.............

 

Run Away Song - YouTube

 

 

Nuff said,

Edited December 30, 2022 by sandrewn

[Drew Espinosa]

6 hours ago, sandrewn said:

In some locations such as Cambodia Spiders are considered to be a delicacy. People will hunt them in order to create various types of dishes with them. It isn’t fully known which of the species they will use and what they will avoid.

 

I learned about this years ago, and made sure @clochette also learned about this fact...  

[sandrewn]

@Bill W

 

 

What would you do if this was in YOUR neighborhood? 

..................................................................................................

My answer was, RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The following was was an actual event that occurred, but my personal reaction to it would have been the same, RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant

This might just be the worst spider infestation of all time. In 2009, the Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant called for help for an "extreme spider" problem. When they said extreme, they really meant it. Almost four acres of the property was completely coated in spider web. Scientists who studied the event estimated there were over 107 million spiders living there, with over 35 thousand spiders per cubic meter in spots.

If you're still in doubt about whether or not you should give this a Google image search, maybe a quote from the local paper could help you decide:

"We were unprepared for the sheer scale of the spider population and the extraordinary masses of both three dimensional and sheet-like webbing that blanketed much of the facility’s cavernous interior... Far greater in magnitude than any previously recorded aggregation of orb-weavers, the visual impact of the spectacle was was nothing less than astonishing. In places where the plant workers had swept aside the webbing to access equipment, the silk lay piled on the floor in rope-like clumps as thick as a fire hose.”

 

 

Edited December 31, 2022 by sandrewn
corrections

[Bill W]

1 hour ago, sandrewn said:

@Bill W

 

 

What would you do if this was in YOUR neighborhood? 

..................................................................................................

My answer was, RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The following was was an actual event that occurred, but my personal reaction to it would have been the same, RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant

This might just be the worst spider infestation of all time. In 2009, the Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant called for help for an "extreme spider" problem. When they said extreme, they really meant it. Almost four acres of the property was completely coated in spider web. Scientists who studied the event estimated there were over 107 million spiders living there, with over 35 thousand spiders per cubic meter in spots.

If you're still in doubt about whether or not you should give this a Google image search, maybe a quote from the local paper could help you decide:

"We were unprepared for the sheer scale of the spider population and the extraordinary masses of both three dimensional and sheet-like webbing that blanketed much of the facility’s cavernous interior... Far greater in magnitude than any previously recorded aggregation of orb-weavers, the visual impact of the spectacle was was nothing less than astonishing. In places where the plant workers had swept aside the webbing to access equipment, the silk lay piled on the floor in rope-like clumps as thick as a fire hose.”

 

 

It's time to dig out the flame thrower.  Yikes.  

[JamesSavik]

9 hours ago, sandrewn said:

@Bill W

What would you do if this was in YOUR neighborhood? 

 

Air strike with napalm and willie-pete.

[Drew Espinosa]

Since 2022 is about to end in 10 or so minutes here in Texas, I'll share an interaction I had with spiders earlier this year.

Context: One night back in July, there was a sudden hailstorm, so the plants outside were at their mercy. The following morning, I went to check on them...

On 7/13/2022 at 7:57 AM, Drew Espinosa said:

I've just been through an odyssey.

So it's nearly 7 a.m. and the sun's risen enough that I figured I could check on the plants beside the garage, including the peach tree that was starting to bare fruit. So, I put on my slippers, unlocked the front door, and left through the screen door. I made my way through all the fallen leaves and branches that littered the driveway and when I rounded the corner, I saw a spider and its web on the first tree; that was my first sign. Then I went over to the peach tree and amongst its limbs I saw another spider with its own web; that was my second sign.

After I was done checking up on the plants, I made my way back to the front door, and I was literally this close to opening the screen door when I immediately pulled back my hand from the door handle. Because there was a GIANT BLACK SPIDER on the handle, and not just anywhere on the door handle, no no no... it was on the button you had to click on to open the door. So here I am, absolutely freaking out at the fact that I almost touched a spider with my BARE HAND (Agghhhh!!!). And the thing is, I didn't have my cellphone on me, so I couldn't call up someone inside to come rescue me, especially since they were still asleep. But, I'd be damned if I was gonna let a spider lock me out of my own home!

So I locked around me to find anything suitable to get rid of that spider. And sure, there were rocks scattered about, but I was afraid I'd end up damaging the door handle if I used one against the spider, so I was left with no choice... I took off one of my slippers and with it in hand, I struck the door handle (but unfortunately not the damn spider!). Now, up to this point, the spider had been completely still, and I was able to keep my arachnophobic self relatively calm... but as soon as that spider began moving after the slipper strike, that's when I really freaked out. So, as the spider 'floated' down from the door handle to the ground, I was cursing up a storm while I put back on the slipper. Anyways, as soon as the spider reached the ground, I rushed to the door, and I stepped on that motherf*cker and dragged my foot across the concrete, so all that was left of that spider was a streak...

Finally free from my mortal foe, I was able to enter my home once again, only to be greeted by my mother and brother... apparently I cursed so loudly that I woke them up (and probably our neighbors too).

So yeah... that was my morning so far.  Anyways, how has your morning/evening been for y'all?  

 

Edited January 1, 2023 by Drew Espinosa

[sandrewn]

 

Researchers Found A 100 Million-Year-Old Spider And Its Meal Encased In Amber

Roughly 100 million years ago, spiders were just as terrifying as they are now. Need proof? How about this piece of amber that was discovered with a perfectly preserved spider inside. The spider was in the middle of consuming a juvenile wasp when both predator and prey were engulfed in tree sap. This particular species of wasp preys on spider eggs, so the wasp might have had it coming in this situation. 

The fossilized amber was found in Myanmar. It's the only example of a spider fossilized during a hunt.

 

 

It may not be a comforting thought to you, but but I think that "THEY" will still be around when we (humans) are long gone.

[Zombie]

7 hours ago, sandrewn said:

Roughly 100 million years ago, spiders were just as terrifying as they are now. Need proof?

Need proof??

to find out that spiders are bigger now than they’ve ever been?!   
 

his girl “Zombie” is kinda cute though…

 

7 hours ago, sandrewn said:

It may not be a comforting thought to you, but but I think that "THEY" will still be around when we (humans) are long gone.

no

no that’s not comforting

that’s not comforting at all  

[Bill W]

10 hours ago, Zombie said:

Need proof??

to find out that spiders are bigger now than they’ve ever been?!   
 

his girl “Zombie” is kinda cute though…

 

no

no that’s not comforting

that’s not comforting at all  

Who the hell would want to keep a spider as a pet?  What does he feed it, the bratty neighborhood kids? 

[Drew Espinosa]

1 hour ago, Bill W said:

Who the hell would want to keep a spider as a pet?  What does he feed it, the bratty neighborhood kids? 

Years ago on this thread, someone shared a YouTube video of a Goliath Bird Eating Spider being fed a mouse... 😣

[sandrewn]

 

2 hours ago, Drew Espinosa said:

Years ago on this thread, someone shared a YouTube video of a Goliath Bird Eating Spider being fed a mouse... 😣

 

Rather than find and repeat that post, I found this one. Be advised not all may want to watch this one.

GOLIATH BIRD EATER VS. MOUSE [HD] WARNING! - YouTube

 

 

....

[Bill W]

3 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

Rather than find and repeat that post, I found this one. Be advised not all may want to watch this one.

GOLIATH BIRD EATER VS. MOUSE [HD] WARNING! - YouTube

 

 

....

Yuck, what a way to start off my day.  

[Drew Espinosa]

23 hours ago, sandrewn said:

Be advised not all may want to watch this one.

Definitely not watching it! 😨

[Drew Espinosa]

Jumping Spider eyes are pretty cool.

 

[sandrewn]

Did you know?

 

There’s A Tarantula Named After Johnny Cash

Most people will not be aware that there is a newly discovered tarantula named after Johnny Cash. Named Aphonopelma johnnycashi after the famous country singer, the tarantula features several characteristics that led researchers to give it "the Man in Black"'s monikor. Its furry black coat reminded the discoverers of Cash's signature black wardrobe. Furthermore, it lives near the Folsom State Prison in California, the location that inspired one of Cash's hit songs.

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by sandrewn

[Bill W]

2 hours ago, sandrewn said:

Did you know?

 

There’s A Tarantula Named After Johnny Cash

Most people will not be aware that there is a newly discovered tarantula named after Johnny Cash. Named Aphonopelma johnnycashi after the famous country singer, the tarantula features several characteristics that led researchers to give it "the Man in Black"'s monikor. Its furry black coat reminded the discoverers of Cash's signature black wardrobe. Furthermore, it lives near the Folsom State Prison in California, the location that inspired one of Cash's hit songs.

 

I'm sure the tarantula was honored, but what did Johnny think of his namesake?  Personally, it would have given me the creeps. 

[JamesSavik]

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down and the flames went higher 🎵
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire 🎵

[sandrewn]

Alice Cooper - Welcome To My Nightmare (Official Audio) - YouTube

 

Ear Spider Infestation

Spiders living in someone's ear might sound like an urban legend, and many of the pictures you'll find of the supposed condition are doctored. However, there are recorded cases of spiders being found lodged in the ears of both humans and animals.

Spiders don't typically seek out ears, noses, or mouths to crawl into. But when it does happen, the accounts are genuinely unnerving. People describe the scratching sounds they hear as the spider tries to move, and mention unexplained headaches and ear pain. Even though it's very unlikely to ever happen to you, it's awful to think about.

 

[Bill W]

12 minutes ago, sandrewn said:

Alice Cooper - Welcome To My Nightmare (Official Audio) - YouTube

 

Ear Spider Infestation

Spiders living in someone's ear might sound like an urban legend, and many of the pictures you'll find of the supposed condition are doctored. However, there are recorded cases of spiders being found lodged in the ears of both humans and animals.

Spiders don't typically seek out ears, noses, or mouths to crawl into. But when it does happen, the accounts are genuinely unnerving. People describe the scratching sounds they hear as the spider tries to move, and mention unexplained headaches and ear pain. Even though it's very unlikely to ever happen to you, it's awful to think about.

 

Although I've never heard of a spider crawling into a person's ear, I don't doubt it, because I read about a woman who went to the hospital because she had something moving around in her ear.  In her case, it turned out to be a cockroach.