[VOA]

I have a serious case of arachnophobia and that picture creeps me out

While it's a real long-shot that you'd meet up with a brown recluse in Mass., I learned
after my encounter that this nasty (and surely other crawlers) are really
expanding their ranges, given modern transport and warehousing.

I remember reading about a Vietnam Vet who explained why he deserted the lower
48 states for Alaska after his tour of duty:
"No more bugs and snakes for me".
(I guess he didn't worry about those summer-time biting flies!)

[SamAdams76]

On the subject of spiders, I don't think it is an accident that there are so many people who are "phobic" of spiders and snakes. Those are the two most dangerous things humans are likely to run into while foraging/hunting, etc. Thus, I think a fear of spiders and snakes "evolved" in humans over time and became sort of instinctive - as a self-preservation mechanism. That is why today you see people (and not just women) have a literal panic attack when one of these things suddenly appears. I know that when I run across a spider, especially a large one, my heatbeat skyrockets, my pulse quickens and I reflectively swat out at it (with a magazine or something) with the object of wanting to kill it immediately. Even if I know it is harmless. This is instinctive for me and I seem unable to control this impulse. That is why I think it is instinctive. I do not have this reaction with any kind of other bug (except maybe a wasp or hornet in which case I don't try to kill it but just run!).