Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Many Chicagoans Are Afraid Of Spiders, But Not Everyone Wants 'Em Dead

By Justin Breen | September 16, 2016 6:13am
 A wolf spider mom carrying her young.
A wolf spider mom carrying her young.
View Full Caption
Flickr Creative Commons/Brian Valentine

CHICAGO — Are you afraid of spiders?

It's a simple question posed on Neighborhood Square that conjured a host of responses — from flat-out paranoia to admiration for the eight-legged, eight-eyed wolf spiders.

A DNAinfo story published Thursday on the wolf spiders informed readers that as the weather cooled, the ground-dwelling spiders could very possibly be heading into their homes.

NSQ users had a multitude of reactions to the article and spiders in general.

"EveryoneIsCrayCray" wrote: "Ugh, how did I read this and look at the pictures while eating lunch, yuck. LOL."

User "18th-n-BlueIsland" noted: "Bats and spiders eat mosquitoes.........love em."

"Lincoln-Ghost" had a much different reaction: "Grabs hair spray, grabs lighter....."

User "IbeforeEexceptafterC" concurred, writing: "I don't mind bugs and insects outside but as soon as they come in my house they're getting killed."

Same goes for "Wildcat," who wrote: "I have a pact with spiders and centipedes: I leave them alone in the basement because I figure they're eating other bugs. But the minute they come upstairs they're getting squished or eaten by the cats."

User "Marmite72" appears fascinated by the spiders: "It's so rare that there's an article about the Nature that surrounds us in the city. I think the eight eyes are cool, too — and I didn't know they carried babies on their backs! I really liked that you encouraged people not to squash them but to take them outside. They're part of the ecosystem. Who are we to play God?"

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: