this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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Science Memes

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[โ€“] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 22 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Not as big as they look and less aggressive than other spiders. Possibly the spiders described in this thread are Tigrosa (like in my picture, though that one is obese).

Fun fact: Lycosidae spiders initially had the name of Tarantulas, though that name felled out of use (except on some of the originating languages) in favor of what we know as tarantulas (Theraphosidae/Myalomporhs). Mediterranean wolf spiders (Lycosa Tarantula) were called Tarantulas, as they were thought they originated from Taranto (a southern place in Italy's boot). What did people in Taranto do when you got bit by a "Tarantula"? What every sensible person would do: Quickly gather musicians and dance fervently a Tarantella to counter the venom[1]!

You have probably heard before the music, as it was prominently featured in The Godfather's wedding.

Side-note[1]: Wolf spiders very seldom bite humans, if they bite then often is a dry bite (without venom) and when they bite with venom it is mostly harmless to humans and stings like a wasp[2]. Like with other spiders, most bites are misreported. Side-note[2]: I am unaware of any Italian folklore dance for wasp stings.

[โ€“] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

Thank you for this. Spiders have an extremely unfair stigma. They literally make our world livable. It's fucking insects like mosquitoes that people should actually hold so much contempt for, and spiders eat them.