For many people, arachnids represent a very dangerous species from which they must escape. In fact, the fear of spiders is very common, but This does not imply that it is an animal that by nature harms humans. If you are afraid of spiders, you will be interested in knowing these fascinating curiosities, so that you know them better and understand that it is very unlikely that your encounter with a spider will be a mortal danger. Rather, they are the ones who should be afraid of you, don’t you think? Without further ado, join us on Supercurioso to learn the best curious facts about spiders!
10 curiosities of spiders that you should know
Spiders are an animal that can be criticized for many things, but none of them is simple. Indeed, they are a unique species in nature due to the capabilities they have. The best known is the durability and resistance of its tissues, with which it can catch and wrap its prey. However, there are many more curious facts about spiders that you do not know.
1. Its venom is studied to treat erectile dysfunction
Viagra is already in the past. Now, spider venom is the one that can help treat the dreaded erectile dysfunction. Although it is still under investigation, the results are promising and, perhaps, they could avoid the side effects of drugs like Viagra or Cialis.
Related to this, there is a Brazilian spider known as Phoneutria Nigriventerwhose bite provokes a strange reaction: an erection. Although it may be funny, the truth is that this reaction is anything but pleasant and it’s possible prolong for several hours.
If this curiosity has caught your attention, you may want to read this entry: animal poisons that heal.
2. They turn their prey into liquid
Another curious fact about spiders is that these they can only digest liquids, in no case can they swallow solids. For this reason, spiders have an external digestion system in which, after crushing their prey, they impregnate it with a kind of gastric juice that allows it to process it much easier.
3. Cobwebs and music
Among the fun facts about spiders, this one will fascinate music connoisseurs, especially those whose instrument is the violin. It turns out that one of the curiosities of spiders is that some cobwebs are used to make the ropes of them. Its threads have even been used for the clothing manufacture thanks to its versatility.
With this, it is clear to us the resistance that spider webs can achieve. Of course, for each string not only one thread of spider web will work, but several must be joined.
4. Lazy spiders
In principle, spiders feed on prey caught in their own webs. But it’s not always like this! Lazy or gluttonous spiders often They feed on prey that has been trapped in other people’s webs.
5. The long-legged spider, cannibal!
There is a species of spider known as the long-legged or Pholcus phalangioides. Its legs allow it to attack and catch its prey while keeping its body far away and safe. This is the same thing that happens with the curious pelican spiders, whose extremities allow them to attack without taking risks.
It is a cannibal spider that eats others and that, in addition, it keeps its young in its mouth until they mature! This is really scary…
Now, at this point it should be noted that, on the other hand, there is only one herbivorous spider in the world. It is the jumping spider of Central America and Mexico. The rest of the spiders in the world are usually carnivorous and feed on insects through a hunting system.
6. One of the curiosities of spiders is that they are everywhere
Just like cockroaches, arachnids have the ability to resist any type of adversity in their environment. Neither the climate nor a very small space are able to prevent them from proliferating in the finer places of your house.
There are many spiders Specifically, there are around 42,000 species and 110 families., which vary especially in their body type and ability to withstand adverse circumstances. That’s why there are arachnids literally all over the world, even in the Antarctica.
7. Fear of spiders
Arachnophobia, or the irrational fear of spiders, is one of the most common phobias in the world, causing panic in a large part of the population. Specifically, it is said that about 50% of women and 16% of men are affected by this fear in particular. Do you experience it too?
Luckily, it is a phobia that can be treated and sometimes completely overcome depending on how you deal with it. This was discovered thanks to the fact that several scientists from the University of São Paulo managed to reduce the fear of spiders in a group of patients through image treatment.
8. Before they were huge
Nowadays, spiders measure a few centimeters (thank goodness), which allows us to get rid of them easily. However it was not always so. in prehistory, There is data that some species of arachnids could measure up to 50 centimeters.
Luckily, thanks to evolution, their size has decreased considerably, to the point that they can become imperceptible. Currently, the Goliath tarantula is the largest spider that exists, with a size that can reach 30 cm, with its legs extended.
9. Curiosities of amazing spiders: they are stronger than steel
Another of the curious facts about spiders is the great resistance of their web. In that sense, if they were the same thickness as steel, the spider’s thread would be much more robust.
It is believed that a strand of spider web, with the same diameter as a pencil, can be capable of stopping a Boeing 747 aircraft in full flight. However, it is not the only thing that stands out about its characteristics, since versatility is an aspect that impresses scientists. Indeed, a spider web has the ability to stretch more than 20 times its original size without breaking.
Another study found that the spider web it expands its strength and hardness when it comes into contact with water. This condition led to its being considered an object of study for the development of glues and adhesives in underwater engineering and even in surgeries.
10. They can be deadly
Although they are mostly harmless species, it does not take away from the fact that there are some spiders in particular that can be deadly. In that sense, the Atrax species of Australia, turns out to be one of the most dangerous Australian animals. Then pI mean the strongest bite in the world, in which its fangs are capable of going through a shoe without much problem.
Added to this is its poison, which has the ability to kill a man if left untreated in less than an hour.
In short, all these curiosities about spiders help us to know that they are a species that lives quietly, without disturbing people. Well, mostly. It’s best not to disturb them, unless they pose a danger to you or your family at some point. If you want to know more about arachnids, you can see some of the myths about spiders. Share in the comments if you are afraid of them or if you know any other information about them. We read you!
Curious spiders that you should know
If you have been wanting to know more about spiders and their curiosities, we share this brief selection with different types of spiders that you probably did not know.