Opinyon Jay - An Unconventional and Foolish Fear

Created Originally For International Baccalaureate CAS Project (Project Tigrosa)

Original Post Date: 12 January 2013

Negative connotation has had its toll on the survival of arachnids and other arthropods. We strive to protect the mammals, the birds, and the reptiles that are in danger of becoming extinct. However, we as humans have forgotten the true rulers and runners of our planet. Every day, our lives have become tangled within a mess of technology, economy, and personal struggle. That leads to a lessening of resources and available time. Appeal, too, is a significant factor which belies our very existence. We see the adorable and attractive tigers, pandas and parrots; however, we set ignorance to those that appear less admirable; such as the scorpions, beetles and spiders. Why is this fair? The answer is that it is not.

While many celebrities, the media, and even schooling express to people of all ages about the negativity of insects and arachnids, we have so much to learn from them. Just knowing that a spider has the ability to give restrictive, charismatic, and giving maternal care closes the distance between us, the primates, and the arthropods. While many obdurate people argue that spiders are simply revolting, venomous, fearful and serve no purpose, the truth is never so much the opposite. For example, of the over 4000 species of spider native to North America, only four to five of them are able to deliver a medically significant bite. Yet despite the low ratio, we as people have over reacted to our spider neighbors. Now, pest control programs have extended their “control” of cockroaches, flies, and mosquitoes to spiders. Such a shameless act on our part for we have destroyed our best friends, best protectors, and best forms of control.

Without spiders, our real pest populations will rise, our crops be become damaged, our prices will rise and our economy will fall. With this, hunger will continue to grow beyond what is controllable by people. Without spiders alone, it is estimated that humans cannot survive for more than five years simply from the overpopulation of other pests. Think about that. Would anyone want a pest ridden world without any form of green? While we simply cannot rule out the importance of other arachnids and insects, spiders have become a symbol of hatred and fear. We see people abdicating their destruction rather than nurturing their existence. How can we live with ourselves knowing that we are killing and detesting on our friends who had and have worked so hard to allow us to survive? We complain that our homes are being invaded by arthropods, yet they were here first. We were the invaders. We were the attackers and we were the ones who encroached upon their homes. So why is it that we should be the ones complaining about them wanting to return to their “native lands” again-especially since they are our very lifeline for our survival and our existence? So next time you see a spider, please consider what it has done for you and what it WILL do for you before stepping or swatting it to its death.