So well written and well researched, as always! 😊 Particularly interesting about the Japanese origin of 10,000 steps. But OMG, why do so many of us find spiders repulsive??!!🤢 We arachnophobes are perfectly well aware that they are both harmless and helpful, but still - eeekk!! I felt my heart rate and temperature rise seeing those photos 😖. I’m less worried by them now that I’m a real grown-up (i.e. a pensioner 😉), so I’m brave enough to trap them in a glass and put them outside. But it’s weird - I’ve happily handled snakes, and mice are fine (although not in the house!), and even small and lightweight spiders are ok. But those big guys.....
You’re absolutely right Susan. I was once photographing a family who kept tarantulas as pets, with eight year old youngsters happily holding them in their hands or on their shoulders. Just focussing from a couple of feet away, the dad said “yes, they can jump too” and I discovered later the photos got a bit blurry at that point.
Thanks for another great article. I will try the towel trick next time a find a house spider in the bath.
Thanks Tim! (Yes, but don't forget how quick they can move once they stop doing the Wile E. Coyote v Roadrunner leg action in the bath).
The cellar spiders in our house hang upside down. Is this usual too?
These things are all relative Pete. Are you sure you weren’t hanging upside down instead?
Perhaps…
So well written and well researched, as always! 😊 Particularly interesting about the Japanese origin of 10,000 steps. But OMG, why do so many of us find spiders repulsive??!!🤢 We arachnophobes are perfectly well aware that they are both harmless and helpful, but still - eeekk!! I felt my heart rate and temperature rise seeing those photos 😖. I’m less worried by them now that I’m a real grown-up (i.e. a pensioner 😉), so I’m brave enough to trap them in a glass and put them outside. But it’s weird - I’ve happily handled snakes, and mice are fine (although not in the house!), and even small and lightweight spiders are ok. But those big guys.....
You’re absolutely right Susan. I was once photographing a family who kept tarantulas as pets, with eight year old youngsters happily holding them in their hands or on their shoulders. Just focussing from a couple of feet away, the dad said “yes, they can jump too” and I discovered later the photos got a bit blurry at that point.
😆 and also 😳