Photo: Ivan Samkov

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Experimental evidence shows reports of spiders “lunging” towards a fearful person is more perception than reality. Even if a spider DID want to chase you down, it probably couldn't. With an open circulatory system, spiders don't have a system of veins and capillaries for oxygen distribution through the body.

wired.com - I Promise: Spiders are Not Trying to Kill You. - WIRED

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A recurring theme in my career as an entomologist has been the “I Swear, It Tried To Kill Me!” story. I can’t tell you how many people are convinced spiders are lunging at them in furious retribution for squashed arachnid relatives. Some people are afraid of spiders, and that’s fine. I’m really creeped out by clowns. Fortunately, I’m not likely to wander into the basement and find a clown dangling over my washing machine. Spiders are a little harder to avoid. Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias in Americans. A common argument suggests we are “evolutionarily programmed” to be afraid of spiders and snakes. Human ancestors, the story goes, were selected for an ability to react to dangerous animals, and that has been passed down to us. (I have not yet seen an argument for predatory Neanderthal clowns roaming the savannas of Africa, alas.)

The rationale for what is a fairly extreme claim —- the source of a modern human’s emotional state lies in our distant genetic past -— is the perception that not all fears are created equal. Some fears do seem more common than others, but how can we separate what’s learned, and what’s inherited? What about cultures that venerate spiders, or that routinely include spiders as part of their diet? How can we explain arachnophilia if arachnophobia is supposed to be the human default?

Fear is the Mind Killer. I will face my fear. (Frank Herbert, Dune) There is a large and lively psychological research literature about fear and phobias, and there’s a clear research consensus that fears are learned, something I wrote about last month. That's not the whole story, though. We don’t have an instinct to fear spiders; but we are primed to become fearful if we see other people being fearful of something. Cultural biases facilitate fear learning, so fears of snakes, spiders, and angry people are more easy to acquire than fears of, say, mushrooms and clowns. (Mushrooms are curiously common in phobia studies. I won’t speculate.) Spider phobia researchers think up some mighty strange ways to test the speed of our reactions to spiders. Like much psychology research, undergraduates are plentiful, cheap, and make up the majority of test subjects. Nearly all experiments involving humans have to go through a university review board for approval, and I really wish I could have been a fly on the wall for some of those discussions.

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Where do spiders like to hide in bedrooms?

Under Furniture – A Good Hiding Spot Some spiders have day and night-time hiding spots. They love privacy and the darkness under your table or sofa completely satisfies them. Give them a nice vacuum treatment and there will be no signs of them anymore.

pantherpestcontrol.co.uk - 15 Most Common Place Where You Will Find Spiders in Your Home

There are about 650 species of spiders found in the UK. Most of them are common in houses and other man-made constructions. When it comes to their hiding spots, the eight-legged creatures can practically hide almost anywhere. The only purpose a spider will invade your home is in search for shelter and prey. Here are the 10 most common spiders found in and around Britain’s homes:

Missing sector orb web spider

Giant house spider

Daddy long legs spider

Lace web spider

Zebra jumping spider

False widow spider

Cardinal spider

Money spider

Tube web spider

Cupboard spiders

Where to Look For Spiders in Your Home

Most people are afraid of spiders, not to mention these suffering from arachnophobia. Although spiders don’t really like to announce themselves (they’re pretty good at hiding) it would be extremely difficult to avoid noticing them at least once in a lifetime. Well don’t worry about it, there are several spots that seem to be very popular spider hangouts and below we’ll reveal to you the most common locations in and around your premises where spiders would love to hide and how to turn them into anti-spider spots.

Take advantage of the the prevention tips as well!

1. Under Furniture – A Good Hiding Spot

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