A new Spiders Alive exhibit opened at the American Museum of Natural History on 4 July.
The exhibit demonstrates fascinating facts about the insects, and how they live. Visitors learn how the creatures spin webs, and generate venom. Hunting techniques of spiders are explored, as viewers learn how the animals capture prey, and deliver a poisonous bite, in order to eat or feed its eight-legged brood. Those visiting the museum also have the chance to learn about lesser-known defense mechanisms of spiders, including noise-making and mimicry.
Visitors will learn how the animals "are adapted to their environment; the roles they play in their ecosystems; and how scientists study spiders," museum officials wrote.
Spiders are among the most versatile of all animals, and are found on all continents except Antarctica. They live in a wide range of environments, both urban and barren, from deserts to rain forests.
Spiders Alive would not live up to its name without live spiders. Museum personnel will be holding - and displaying 16 species of spider and two scorpions each day. These include the goliath bird eater, a relative of tarantulas. Growing up to 11 inches long, this species is the second-largest, and most-massive, known spider species in the world today. Smaller, but even more dangerous, is the western black widow, another species that will be on display during the exhibit. This type of spider is one of the few species that live in North America capable of severely injuring a human being. Another dangerous species of spider on exhibit is the brown recluse. A single bite from one of these spiders can cause an injury that can take several weeks to heal. One display will allow viewers to see the largest research collection of spiders in the world, containing more than one million individuals.
In addition to live spiders, the show will also display fossils, videos and large-scale models of the insects, allowing people to examine the structure of arachnid bodies in great detail.
Arachnophobia, or fear of spiders, is one of the most common of all phobias. The feeling can cause those afflicted to avoid outdoor activities, especially hiking or camping, where they may encounter the insects. The exact causes of this phobia are unknown. Some evolutionary biologists believe the fear may have arisen in early humans who learned that some spider bites can be painful or dangerous. Other researchers feel that cultural beliefs are more likely to be the roots cause of arachnophobia.
A video previewing the Spiders Alive show is available on the American Museum of Natural History YouTube page.
Spiders Alive will run through 2 November.
