We explored the local horticulture garden for spiders and found a few — a lovely young Dolomedes and a rather grumpy looking Philodromus. I try to avoid posting spider photos here, so you’ll have to check out my Patreon or Instagram to see them. Sorry. In recompense, here’s a fly:
I have to ask…so many people are arachnophobic and reflexively avert their eyes at spiders, but do you have the same reaction to close-ups of flies? You know, flies are likely responsible for far more disease and death than spiders, and don’t get me started on their Dipteran cousins, the mosquitoes.
Also, I looked at my Instagram, and it’s just jam-packed with exciting spider photos. Then I looked at the Instagram pages of my more popular, attractive, and charming friends, like David Gorski and Rebecca Watson, and what do I see? Puppies. Lots of puppies.
Am I doing something wrong?
What, no cats?
I also have friends with lots of cat photos. I can’t even do that.
Yesterday, I was tying my shoes and our cat ran over and sliced open my hand. I was bleeding all over the place. I should have stopped to pose and take a picture.
I really envy cats those retractable claws.
I run towards spiders so the only thing that you are doing wrong is not posting more spider pictures!
Photos of large spiders preying on puppies and kittens caught in the web? Might not help improve the reputation of spiders for the general public though.
🐶🕸🕷🐈
Am I doing something wrong?
You’re on the wrong side of evolution. Puppy dogs evolved the face and eyes to be loved and cuddled. Flies evolved their pestful ways to be swatted away. Spiders evolved their grotesque form to be doused and set alight with napalm.
These days, we can reduce the numbers of flies by breeding nematodes that will kill them. Better than insecticides.
As for the tsetse fly and the mosquito species that carry malaria, I vote we set up animal preserves for them on isolated islands. And “gene driver” the rest into oblivion.
(Don’t touch the bats that carry interesting virus strains. We need them as emergency reboot tools in case the human race devolves even further)
Do vets ever provide psychopharmaceutics for cats? It might make rehabilitation easier.
Clearly then, says the mildly deranged penguin, The ideal companion would be an eight-legged amphibious venomous cat that flies and spits fire. Rather like a dragon. Or a certain pengu——ARRUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!