Creatures in Need of a Press Agent Week -- Candidate No. 2- The Spider

Myth: Spiders bite while we're asleep.
Fact: Although it is possible to have been bitten by a spider, the vast majority of bites are from common insects like mosquitos and flies. In fact, spiders do not seek out humans because we have nothing to offer them in the way of food. They eat insects that they catch and immobilize. Spider bites usually result from direct, inadvertent contact that disturbs or threatens the animal.

Myth: Spiders, just like many insects, invade our houses as the weather changes.
Fact: First of all, spiders are not insects - they are arachnids (Class Arachnida). Secondly, the spiders that live within our houses are very likely species that have always lived there and are adapted to the rather water scarce and sometimes food scarce environment. In fact, putting a spider "back out where it belongs" may well lead to its demise. Remember, as the perennial guests that they are, they perform a rather valuable function of capturing insects that might otherwise pester or bite.

Myth: Spiders are not good to have around because their bites are dangerous.
Fact: Almost all spiders are venomous, meaning that they are capable of secreting a chemical that is used to immobilize their prey. A minority of spider species have venom that can cause localized pain in humans, like the venom of bees or wasps. (Bees and wasps are far more dangerous than spiders, however; wasps cause many deaths annually). Of around 50,000 spider species known, only about 25 (1/20 of 1 percent) have venom capable of causing illness in humans, to a greater or lesser extent. In any given locality you can expect to find from zero to (at most) three such species. The Spider Myth Site www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/index.html provided some of the information for this piece.

Today's photo is of a Black & Yellow Argiope (Argiope aurantia) taken by WPC Member John M. Karian, who does nature photography in Venango County.

In keeping with the upcoming month-ending holiday, the week of October 20th through the 24th, WPC Daily will feature five creatures who have a reputation of being "scary." We will present facts that, hopefully, will dispel some myths and will invite you to vote for your favorite. The winning photo will be announced on Thursday, October 30, when all participants will be able to download a screensaver of the entire group in time to celebrate Halloween.

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View the winning WPC Daily (Makes a great screen wallpaper for October)