Do spiders crawl into your bed or lay eggs under your skin? Macro photographer Magni Macro checks the common fears and explains why most spiders just want to avoid us.
Facing common fears about spiders
Magni Macro, an Austrian macro photographer based in Lithuania, writes about spiders in central, eastern and perhaps northern Europe, and notes that his advice does not apply everywhere. He starts by explaining why spiders turn up indoors: they look for humidity, warmth and the insects they feed on, and cellars and bathrooms suit them well. He suggests gently relocating one with a cup and a piece of paper.
He then tackles common worries. Spiders almost never end up in beds, only a few European species can break human skin with their fangs, and most only bite when badly frightened. He goes through myths such as swallowing spiders in sleep or spiders laying eggs under the skin, and finds no evidence for them. There are also not really more spiders in late summer, he says, only larger orb weavers that become easy to notice.
He admits he used to fear spiders himself. Watching them through macro photography replaced fear with respect, especially after seeing how devoted a wolf spider is to her eggs.
_This story was written by Magni Macro for Untold Wildlife, our partner in bringing overlooked conservation stories to more people._