Habitually associated with the colour black, with death, the spider figures among the list of the animal world’s most hated creatures. The spider inspires repulsion, to the point of phobia in certain individuals. Its dark velvety appearance, its rapidity and the unpredictable nature of its movements are often cited as reasons for this repulsion.
This judgement is hasty, irrational and unjust, since out of the 35,000 recorded species, only a hundred or so can actually cause a reaction in humans and only a dozen are really dangerous.
Yet our view of the spider is always tainted with disgust or fear.

Thus, for us humans, the spider’s web is not an invention of genius but a sticky thing that on contact often makes us leap.
Yet, since the spider hears nothing and sees practically nothing, the spinning of its web is its only means of communicating with its environment. What is less known is the fact that the silk thread is five times more resistant than steel. The spider throws itself from the top of its web to make its silk, the silk proteins being produced by glands situated at the back of its abdomen. This fall, which ensures a constant speed during the spinning of the web, explains its astonishing solidity. There are even researchers who imagine genetic manipulations to transfer spider genes to sheep or goats to obtain ultra-resistant wool varieties!

Another preconceived idea: that the spider is a solitary and aggressive creature. False. There are fifteen or so social species that spin communal webs. This is the case of the Anelosimus eximius, widespread throughout South America. These spiders construct an immense collection of webs, which often exceed 100 cubic metres in volume, with records of over 1000 cubic metres.
Even if we are not yet prepared to make pets of spiders, except for a few rare enthusiasts, it is time to bring justice to these unloved creatures by exploring their universe in more detail.

For a very long time, Chinese medicine has recognised the therapeutic properties of spider silk and venom. Their benefits are mentioned already in scripts dating back to the Ming Dynasty.
Today, Chinese companies are developing these products (syrups, powders, pills) based on spider silk or venom, which have proven to be very effective in the treatment of nervous or circulatory disorders, inflammatory conditions and insomnia.

So the next time you cross paths with a spider, perhaps you will consider allowing it to continue on its way, safe and sound...