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Full Version: Arachnophobia
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Ah the dentist! Now that is a whole different thread Icon_biggrin

I am usually ok with spiders, like senua if there is an extra large one I won't want to go near it but average size ones I can generally cope with!
As previously mentioned spider phobias tend to be rooted in the unknown, so learning more about them can sometimes help. I must admit in the past I was not their greatest fan but I would have never intentionally harmed one and I would have always used a glass at arms length to remove one from the house, however, after a chance encounter with a spider that I later identified as being a false widow (Steatoda grossa), I decided to learn more about them. I now find them really interesting creatures and rather than go straight for the glass whenever I see one, my first reaction now is to get in for a good look to see whether I can ID it.

David Icon_smile
I like the jumping Zebra spiders black and white ( i wonder why there called Zebra spiders hee hee). If you manage to see any (they are small) move you finger tip towards them and they will jump but only a short distance away from you. They move so fast our eyes cant keep up with the movement so it seems like they disappear and re-materialise in a different area. They are great to watch. Usually found in a sunny area on light coloured rocks etc cement areas seem to be a good place for them but they are hard to find but entertaining when you find them and striking marks when using a strong magnifying glass to observe.
Phobias, remember knowledge conquers fear as Marshall Stax has demonstrated.
I don't particulary mind spiders especially zebra ones , as I usede to torment them on my windowsill just to make them jump. (OK I know I shouldn't be mean!!!) What I don't like are those with the big round fleshy bodies as you may have read in one of my posts about the one in my pocket but hey, Perhaps that was payback for make the zebra spiders jump?Icon_redface

tibbar Wrote:
I don't particulary mind spiders especially zebra ones , as I usede to torment them on my windowsill just to make them jump. (OK I know I shouldn't be mean!!!) What I don't like are those with the big round fleshy bodies as you may have read in one of my posts about the one in my pocket but hey, Perhaps that was payback for make the zebra spiders jump?Icon_redface


Ha Ha that made laugh. im still laughing thats class. ha ha.
Im checking my pockets from now on they might be out to get me as well. They might find it hard to find me though i dont keep still very long. Mind you iv had them in my bed a few times thats true so you got off lucky tibbar.

I have never heard of the zebra spider, let alone come across one! The thought of grounded spiders for me is bad enough Icon_eek
But at the same time they do sound fascinating
Sunshine they are cute feisty little things like the spider fox terriers of the world. Unfortunately now we don't have the bedroom windowsill anymore as we have french doors instead buy they were great to play with. They were always more frightening of me than me of them!! I think that I might miss them.
Altaylor Glad you found it funny ... it was squishy.....Hee hee Icon_cheesygrin I suppose I got off lightly......
I wouldn't say I have a phobia of spiders, but I just dislike them.
Have anyone tried Conkers in the house as a Spider deterent?
Conkers? Never heard of that one. How exactly does that work then fauna?
You have to place the Conkers in the corners of your rooms, the smell from them? is supposed to keep Spiders away?

Still iffy about it working mind you. Tried it in my Daughters bedroom last year, she was literally getting Spiders in her bedroom every night for about a month. One night she was shook up and refused to go to bed, totally huge specimen on her wall. I remembered i had some Conkers in my seed bag and told her they scared Spiders, just to get her to Bed. Showed her some related info on the web, job done she went to bed. And there has not been a Spider in her bedroom since, the rest of the house yes.. Coincidence??
I was very sceptical when I read about the conker business but if it works for you then I can't argue with that! Icon_biggrin

It's worth a go in any case, it is a good use for the hundreds of unused conkers that get collected each year.
Can't hurt to try. I'd rather share my bedroom with a conker than a spider! I'll let you know how it goes. Now I just got to wait til autumn.. Icon_mrgreen

Fauna Wrote:
Still iffy about it working mind you. Tried it in my Daughters bedroom last year, she was literally getting Spiders in her bedroom every night for about a month. One night she was shook up and refused to go to bed, totally huge specimen on her wall. I remembered i had some Conkers in my seed bag and told her they scared Spiders, just to get her to Bed. Showed her some related info on the web, job done she went to bed. And there has not been a Spider in her bedroom since, the rest of the house yes.. Coincidence??


It does seem to be more than a coincidence, and a quick search of the net provides many similar tales of being overrun with spiders which all suddenly disappear when conkers are placed in the corner of the room. I couldn't find any "scientific" evidence of it (I'm not sure many scientists would want to study it!) but it is definitely worth a try as it seems to work and more importantly it's free.

It will be a while before the conkers are out though Icon_biggrin

Yes after some searching the internet is absolutely packed (usually on yahoo answers) by eople saying that this will work. I think we should have a Wildlife UK official test in the Autumn to sort out the answer once and for all!
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