My first post

[dllsPete]

My first post will be about Pholcidae. The funny, strange and curious family of true spiders who can be seen just about anywhere here in Denmark. As long as its indoors.

Because we have four distinct seasons here, it varies a lot how many I see. Most find other places to hide this time of year. A few of them seem to like my bathroom either for humidity, because it isnt much warmer there, or for thirst. Some do sip a little water out there after a shower. When summer comes and temperatures are high its generally easier to find them. They will climb towards the ceilings plus there will be new spiderlings in just about every little corner you can find.

They are the easiest pets you can have. You have to love spiders though

One funny thing i found out is that they sometimes like a minty breath. Some go towards you if your mouth smell like it. For me personally i found out they like the smell of Listerine. Not every single one but some might suddenly start getting curious and crawl towards where your mouth is blowing. Its pretty strange and only works for a minute or two right after you have used it. After that they usually crawl back. Try it out

 

[WildSpider]

One funny thing i found out is that they sometimes like a minty breath. Some go towards you if your mouth smell like it. For me personally i found out they like the smell of Listerine. Not every single one but some might suddenly start getting curious and crawl towards where your mouth is blowing. Its pretty strange and only works for a minute or two right after you have used it. After that they usually crawl back. Try it out

Lol, I think I am going to have to try this.

Welcome to Arachnoboards !

 

[FrDoc]

I am getting this image in my head of scores of AB users running around their homes with a bottle of mouthwash in hand, blowing everywhere to see if it attracts spiders. A veritable arachnid pied piper of Hamelin picture.

 

[The Snark]

They are the easiest pets you can have.

Welcome to AB. And yes, the ultimate easy pet. Well, they compete with pet rocks. They also present one of the stranger paradoxes of the spider world. Innocuous and harmless, ignoring people and animals near their webs. Even arachnophobes can get used to having them around. But at the same time they are up at the top at killing other spiders. The arachnophobe nightmares, widows and recluse, easily fall prey to these mass of legs with a little tiny spider attached.

 

[dllsPete]

One funny thing i found out is that they sometimes like a minty breath. Some go towards you if your mouth smell like it. For me personally i found out they like the smell of Listerine. Not every single one but some might suddenly start getting curious and crawl towards where your mouth is blowing. Its pretty strange and only works for a minute or two right after you have used it. After that they usually crawl back. Try it out

Next time i try i better record the attempt. Pied piper of pholcids sounds appropriate though

 

[Quetzalcoatl Nyarlathotep]

I have come to realize that there is a place for pholcids after the incident a few years back. I know I've been angry at them, but I feel like the clouds are lifting. Hopefully they just learn to stay away from my widow enclosures. There is peace, for now.

 

[dllsPete]

Poor guy already doomed being a male. Now even more so by losing 2 legs.

 

[pannaking22]

They deal with leg loss really well, for all intensive purposes he's completely functional.

 

[dllsPete]

They deal with leg loss really well, for all intensive purposes he's completely functional.

Still its going to be harder to walk around and wrap food for consumption and the females he meet must enjoy sex with an amputee.

Btw I think male spiders should have their own "metoo" movement. They are almost always smaller than females and some end up being killed or eaten. Most of them live a shorter life too. Stand up for yourselves males

 

[Polenth]

Welcome to AB. And yes, the ultimate easy pet. Well, they compete with pet rocks. They also present one of the stranger paradoxes of the spider world. Innocuous and harmless, ignoring people and animals near their webs. Even arachnophobes can get used to having them around. But at the same time they are up at the top at killing other spiders. The arachnophobe nightmares, widows and recluse, easily fall prey to these mass of legs with a little tiny spider attached.

I used their spider-eating ways to persuade the resident arachnophobe to leave them alone. I don't think it'd be liked if I put one in a tank to keep, but they're tolerated when they're free-roaming (don't ask me for the logic of that one).

 

[dllsPete]

Welcome to AB. And yes, the ultimate easy pet. Well, they compete with pet rocks. They also present one of the stranger paradoxes of the spider world. Innocuous and harmless, ignoring people and animals near their webs. Even arachnophobes can get used to having them around. But at the same time they are up at the top at killing other spiders. The arachnophobe nightmares, widows and recluse, easily fall prey to these mass of legs with a little tiny spider attached.

Gracias

Pet rocks are entertaining too. They just don't live very long so pholcids are definitely better.

They don't ignore people and animals near their webs. They are more tolerant than many other spiders but will take action at some point.

I haven't seen any of the pholcids here eat other spiders. I know they are known for it but that doesn't mean they always do. In my apartment I have seen small jumping spiders and even spitting spiders crawl right past them. They definitely pay attention, even following them a little bit but never killed or ate them.

 

[The Snark]

I haven't seen any of the pholcids here eat other spiders.

It's purely an opportunity thing. The Pholcids web doesn't have sticky lines so another spider has to enter the web and the pholcid has to be on top of things enough to go over and get in a wrestling match. Providing all that happens, once the Pholcid starts wrapping it's prey and delivering those nips, other spiders don't have much of a chance. Hammering the Pholcid in it's web is nearly impossible so the only salvation is to wriggle enough to drop down through that web maze to escape. A maze of strands that are only really negotiable by other Pholcids.

 

[RedSkyzBlueMind]

Welcome! I'm new here myself, but I already feel like I've been here for years lol!

 

[dllsPete]

Welcome! I'm new here myself, but I already feel like I've been here for years lol!

Welcome to the creepy crawly board of the 8-legged variety

 

[dllsPete]

I noticed they seem to "drop down" after having been in the same position for a while. At first they are almost flat to the ceiling and then they relax more. Always something new to discover with spiders.

 

[The Snark]

Pholcids are just like cats. They are going to do what they want when they want where they want and if you don't like it, tough. They have ignoring you down to a science.

 

[dllsPete]

Pholcids are just like cats. They are going to do what they want when they want where they want and if you don't like it, tough. They have ignoring you down to a science.

And that's part of their appeal, isn't it?

 

[The Snark]

And that's part of their appeal, isn't it?

WHAM. Made me do some serious introspection there. I've heard of normal cats, been exposed to normal cats, and understand what you're saying and you're right. On my part, I've been wondering why we are cohabitants with these particular cats... and now wistfully wishing our cats were more like pholcids.
Cat 1, See Cow: I NEED TO SLEEP ON YOUR FEET! Cat 1.5: Gnarly the neurotic. Give her constant reassurance or she goes into a nervous decline and drops down to <2 lbs. -> Just another 3 hours of pacing and maybe 50 more circles around the fridge before my nap. Cat 3, Snit: Bart Simpson personified in feline form. Could have been Matt Groening's inspiration.
Make that -most- pholcids. Get out of my cup, Bart!

 

[dllsPete]

WHAM. Made me do some serious introspection there. I've heard of normal cats, been exposed to normal cats, and understand what you're saying and you're right. On my part, I've been wondering why we are cohabitants with these particular cats... and now wistfully wishing our cats were more like pholcids.
Cat 1, See Cow: I NEED TO SLEEP ON YOUR FEET! Cat 1.5: Gnarly the neurotic. Give her constant reassurance or she goes into a nervous decline and drops down to <2 lbs. -> Just another 3 hours of pacing and maybe 50 more circles around the fridge before my nap. Cat 3, Snit: Bart Simpson personified in feline form. Could have been Matt Groening's inspiration.
Make that -most- pholcids. Get out of my cup, Bart!

Looks like an outdoors Pholcid. They usually like four walls with a bit heat and humidity. Maybe he/she really is Bart Simpson - adrenaline junkie.

As neurotic and independent as cats might be, it would be very strange if you couldn't touch or pet them. Imagine if they changed overnight to be exactly like pholcids. Wrapping their food, hiding in corners upside down, moving up and down agressively if you get too close and run up or down your wall. There would be a lot less catladies thats for sure.