The Spiders That Took Over Holland
I have never been someone who is easily scared by spiders. However, when I saw Arachnophobia as a young teenager in the early 90s I have to admit that I was creeped out for a few days. As a result I felt uncomfortable walking under lamp shades and I could not look at pop-corn the same way again. However, it was only a movie and the chances of a spider attack on that scale really happening seemed highly unlikely… until a few days ago.
Earlier this week I noticed a rather strange amount of spiders in the Dutch town were I live, much more then you would normally expect to see. Most of them were near some form of foliage and if there was no spider in sight there was at least a very big web that looked like it was still in use.Some of the arachnids have managed to spin webs over seemingly impossible distances from one tree to another, possibly with ambitions of catching a human. It is lucky that I do not suffer from Arachnophobia otherwise I might have started running through the streets screaming, never to return. The little eight legged freaks have spun webs every where around town. Maybe this is the start of a combined attempt to cocoon the whole of North Holland. Shelob’s little minions might already be at work in other locations around the country.
Luckily they are only European Garden Spiders (I think) and their bite is harmless unless you happen to be a fly. However, if they form an alliance (or worse, a hybrid) with the mosquitoes we are all doomed. At the very least I will likely get sued by every arachnophobia sufferer for coursing them emotional distress with this post. Sorry for any nightmares I cause with this story.
UGH! I wouldn’t be able to handle it Stu! I’d definitely be leaving town! ;)
I’ve been suffering from an invasion of extremely industrious web spinners in my barge, Stu…maybe they’re related to your lot, cos they seem to want to ttache all the boats in the harbour together. We have festoons of new webs every morning…just as well I’m not scared by the little blighters too as I have plenty enough work evicting them from inside too!
Living in Australia we have to cope with the creepies and crawlies of the majorly poisonous variety. I know what you’re going through.
I’ve only been bitten by a snake once, and never by a spider so I guess I’m reasonably lucky.
You’re right! I’ve noticed the same thing lately. I’ve unknowingly walked into a few webs and even felt compelled to kill two of them, although it makes me feel guilty. I wonder what’s going on with the sudden population increase.
I had to kill a huge one recently at a friend’s house, unfortunately I was on the phone to my Japanese manager at the time explaining why I was going to be late for work- and the blighter nearly got away whilst I dredged up the necessary Japanese for “Oh f**K that spider is massive”.
Hate them.
Helen – I’d be amazed with there is anyone with even a small fear of spiders left in the town.
VallyP – They’re attempting to cocoon the Dutch water ways to cut of escape routes. Maybe they have already started at the airport as well.
Bonestorm – I don’t think we have many poisonous spiders in Europe. It might just be a stereotypical view of Australia but TV over here has always made it look like poisonous spiders are constantly getting into people’s homes and hiding out in the bathroom or in someoneÂ’s shoes. Now that would freak me out.
Take heart all northern hemisphere dwellers. I noticed this week that there appears to be the beginning signs of an arachnid retreat. Cooler nights and shorter days are obviously the signal to our eight legged friends to turn their attention to the south! Sorry Aussies, it’s your turn now!
I am ashamed to say that any spider where I can see the eyes scares me senseless – to the point where I have to ask my wife to put them outside. When I was in Australia on holiday a couple of years back I went into the garage and shut the door and there was a spider the size of my hand on the back of the door by the handle. I was in the garage for ages waiting for someone to hear me and let me out, Shiver.
We are currently under attach from very small flies. There is one currently trying to attach my eyebrow.
oh man. a spider/mosquito hybrid would be crazy. bad enough that mosquitos cary the west nile virus D=
oh spiders …. we’ve come under an invasion of stripey, fairly small spiders chez nous – i wonder if it’s the vine out at the back that they like – but they’re everywhere.
and as for carpet spiders – i don’t usually get so many so early on in the year, if at all, but we’ve already been attacked by at least four that we’ve seen.
i remember when i lived alone many moons ago and returned home to find the biggest tarantula ever waiting for me in the hallway. i asked the downstairs neighbour to save me but even he flinched on seeing it and whacked it with a newspaper.
best thing to avoid getting carpet spiders ? a cat.
BlondebutBright – It must be something to do with the weather change or the invasion has really started.
Freya – That would have been funny to hear :P
VallyP – We won! We won! Sorry Bonestorm. We won!
Andrew Tingle – I have a friend who is the same. I had to remove a spider for him once.
Matt – All the insects are at it. They must be working together.
Bill – I wonder if the one’s in Europe have that because the little buggers attacked me in the night again.
I’m lucky there. We have a cat and no carpet. We have wooden floors instead :p
I hate spiders and all creepy things that can walk and fly!
Enjoying your blog immensely.