We really need these top level predators to maintain ecosystems. Not only are they beautiful creatures in themselves, but they really do have a part to play in keeping the world in delicate balance.
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Yep, and a lot of the times when they attack human beings, is because of people’s stupidity (like people climbing into enclosures at zoos).
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It always winds me up to see Spiderman shooting ‘silk’ from his wrists. If he was a proper spiderman, the silk should have been coming from… somewhere pretty close to his behind.
I know. It wouldn’t look anywhere near so heroic, but it would have made a lot more sense to me!
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A colleague of mine has done some excellent work in showing that, even when forced to bite humans, some spider species try to turn away to avoid biting first. Then, if they have no choice (literally at risk of being squished if they don’t do something to dissuade the person), they often dry bite (bite without releasing any venom). They’re basically trying to nip as a warning.
Yet. Oh dear. And YET…
The media (and much of the general public) make slavering venomous monsters out of them. It’s a misinformation campaign.
I’ve even conducted research that has demonstrated how much misinformation about spiders originates in the UK and is then propagated around the world.
It makes me… so cross!
(Sorry. Rant over.)
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There was a Film Theory video about that very idea which was quite interesting.
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Oh really? Do tell! 
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Oh yeah, as an Australian, I’m totally sick of the spider slander. People go on and on about our dangerous wildlife including spiders, but you really have to go out of your way to be bit/attacked by them and other animals. In fact, there hasn’t been a confirmed death due to spider bite since 1979, due to widely available anti-venoms. Now drop bears tho, they’re the ones you really have to look out for.
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