this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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Science Memes

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The Bog (mander.xyz)
submitted 3 weeks ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 127 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

I feel like the interviewer wasn’t explicit about the conditions. They probably phrased it gently. “Are you alright with wolf spiders finding their way onto you?”

“Naturally”, the potential employee thinks. “Wolf spiders are amongst the least dangerous spiders. I’m fine with their occasional company.”

What they should have asked was “are you capable of tolerating dozens of heavy wolf spiders motivatedly crawling over your head, torso, and arms for hours at a time without reprieve? To become a gathering ground during their apocalypse? To be their Noah’s ark?” That is a question that provokes a sincere answer.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 52 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I love spiders. I don't want them on my face.

Also, it seems like it should be a dedicated job to get the spiders out of the bog. If you're out there working and you're covered in spiders, a fair number of them are going to get squished. Nobody wants that. The spiders don't want to hang out on your body, they want to get to dry land.

[–] DoGeeseSeeGod@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Some dollar store inflatable tubes or rafts + maybe a more grippy material would provide a nice place for the spiders and limit the amount on humans

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

Especially if they were tethered to something on land so they could get off.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 2 weeks ago

Maybe just put out some wooden posts in the field.

[–] marcos@lemmy.world 25 points 3 weeks ago

Even then, I can imagine that several people only discover that they aren't in fact ok with dozens of large spiders climbing through their heads after it happens.

[–] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago

To be their Noah’s ark?

When you put it like that, it sounds rad as hell. I'm in

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 54 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I've had the song Zombie by The Cranberries stuck in my head and because of this post about cranberries I've changed the line stuck in my head to this:

But you see, they're on me, they are my employee
On my head, on my head, they are fleeing
With their fangs and their bogs, and their bogs, and their legs
On your head, on your head, they are crawling~

On your head, on your he-eaya-ed,
Spi-der, spi-der, spiiiders,
What's on your head, on your head,
Spi-der, spi-der, spi-ehya-ehya-ehya-ehya-eyoh-

[–] Asetru@feddit.org 28 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Love it. But:

But you see, they're on me, they are ~~not my family~~ my employee

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

How'd I miss that slam dunk! Edited it in, haha.

[–] Coopr8@kbin.earth 6 points 2 weeks ago

I love this.

[–] state_electrician@discuss.tchncs.de 29 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, no, I am not going to be anywhere near that.

[–] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 22 points 2 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.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 10 points 2 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.

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 25 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I think the spiders could be manageable with the right gear. Maybe something like the top half of a bee or a bug suit. If i couldn't feel the spiders crawling on me and they can't get on my neck or face i think i could get used to them chilling while i harvest.

[–] bran_buckler@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

Give me an old timey diving suit!

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Why don't they put sone long planks leading up and out of the bog for a day or so before the harvesters go in? Give the spiders a time window to migrate to the shore...

[–] Coopr8@kbin.earth 16 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Its a big ~~field~~ bog, and the people in charge of harvest have to move around in it. Also they drag the boom across the bog surface to harvest, so poles in the ground aren't really an option.

The better question is... why not float rafts on the bog with the berries to let the spiders flee into those first then let the people wade in. Arachnid employees deserve safe evacuation! Probably wouldn't fully solve the problem, but might make it a bit better.

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 7 points 2 weeks ago

Great idea! Float out some 'life rafts' for the critters to gather on first, then tow them to shore before sending the workers in.

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 1 points 2 weeks ago

Wolf spiders are harmless, so there is hardly any incentive to invest in another solution I'd guess...

I wish they weren't so shy though, it's really hard to take good photos of them because they are so fast.

[–] the_mighty_kracken@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

I can confirm all of this. I know a guy whose uncle grows cranberries on the Oregon Coast, and he told me this exact story.

[–] Lucien@mander.xyz 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ok, I'd be down, I fucking love wolf spiders. Happy workers day to them, indeed.

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 weeks ago

Huntsman are nice and friendly

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

swampberries