Spider, an Arachnophobia Specialist, has been working with spiders and invertebrates since she was 12, and an arachnid lover all her life.
She works on how to break arachnophobia, so people aren’t scared of spiders.
She also wants to show others how misunderstood arachnids are, and to appreciate them more.
Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias in the world today, affecting almost 18% of the British population.
However, Spider argues that these invertebrates are harmless, and that we should be more aware of the benefits that spiders bring to the ecosystem.
Creepy crawlies or ‘Mini Beauties’ as Spider likes to call them, have large benefits to the world and the people, so why are people scared of spiders?
Spider establishes 4 theories in explaining Arachnophobia’s causes.
The first is Instinct, instinct is where your primal brain (medulla) is engaged which means you will be reacting on survival, passed down through generations. Probably, a long time ago, there would be one of our relatives who touches a spider, gets bitten and therefore produces the thought pattern to stay away from spiders.
Now as humans evolve, we still have that instinctive part of our brain, warning us to stay away from these creatures.
The second and third theories are quite similar, arachnophobia could be produced because of learnt behaviour, learning that the way your parents react near a spider is right and you should also react in the same way, and the third; to blend into the crowd, even if you didn’t initially have a fear of spiders, many do, and you might be looked upon strangely if you don’t react similarly to others.
Finally, the fourth is Perception.
This means the memory of the information we gain through shows, movies and books. In these, whenever a spider shows up the setting is made into a spooky, creepy one.
We even use spider costumes in Halloween, and cobwebs are always a sign of derelict, scary areas.
However, none of these theories actually prove that arachnids are harmful.
“There is not a single recorded death in the world or captivity by tarantula bite”, Spider says, they are just “gentle giants”.
Actually, spiders benefit the world greatly as they have been around for about 318 million years, continually maintaining the micro ecosystem, the circle of life.
This keeps mosquitoes, flies, butterflies and all other insects in check.
Spiders could be the most important animals on the planet because of this important goal!
Spider and her employees at the Beeche club in High Elms want to spread a message of awareness for these ‘Mini Beauties’ and for everyone to appreciate them as they do a very important job.
Tarantulas even do a happy dance once they catch food!
So, think twice before you end a Mini Beauty’s life.
