For our first blog post of the year, I would like you to read this short article below about bug and spider myths. Which myth did you believe before you read this article? Which bug or spider myth do you still have questions about? Do you know where any of these bug and spider myths came from?
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/11/bugs-animals-insects-spiders-mosquitoes-tarantulas-science-myths/
Once you have read the article, post a scholarly response to the article. What did you think? Did you like the article? Why or why not? Would this article convince you to be less afraid of bugs and spiders or are you still going to reach for your bug spray at first site of a mosquito? I expect you to write this paragraph in the same fashion that you would write a paragraph for English class. Capital letters, proper punctuation, correct spelling and format are expected. You classmates will also write a response to this article. Can you include a link to other cool bug sites? What other myths would you like debunked? In addition to your own response, I would like you to comment on at least one classmates response to the article. All of these initial responses will be posted to my blog for the world to see, so do your best.
This article was really interesting! It was relieving to hear that most of the scary myths about bugs aren't true. I think I might be a little less afraid of bugs, but they're still creepy, and can crawl all over you! I've heard that female Black Widow Spider's kill their mates, and I wonder if that's true. Learning these things about bugs certainly makes them seem less dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI thought this article was interesting too! I was always scared of spiders! When you said that Black Widow Spider's kill their mates, I had like the same question like do they really actually kill the mates? And why do they do that?
DeleteYes, I agree Madeline because there are numerous myths that I thought to be absolutely relieving! Also I agree how that spiders may seem harmless, but they are creepy and petrifying!
DeleteI agree with your post Madelinw beacuse there were numerous myths I thought were very interesting and glad to hear that are not true.
DeleteI found the article surprisingly fascinating. I was afraid to read it at first do to my deathly fear of bugs, but it was quite interesting. Before reading this article I did believe that daddy longlegs had deadly venom and that cockroaches could survive a nuclear war, but now I know the truth. A saying I have heard multiple times is that mosquitoes are more likely to bite people with blonde hair. I wonder if this is a myth or not. Personally I want to believe it is true, but after all the mosquito bites I received this summer I'm not so sure!
ReplyDeleteBased on the article I posted above that talked about why mosquitoes bite some people more than others, I'm inclined to believe that they wouldn't prefer different people due to their hair color. That being said, if people with blonde hair happened to have a distinctly high level of a certain chemical mosquitoes are attracted to, then it could be completely true. If only those nasty spiders would do a better job at eating the even more pesky mosquitoes!
DeleteI'm super afraid of spiders, too! Before reading this I was convinced that the swallowing spiders myth was true, but now I am also pleased to know that it is not.
ReplyDeleteI was also shocked when I heard we swallow like 8 spiders a year in our sleep thankfully that isn't true, I wonder how people came to believe that.
ReplyDeleteThe article “7 Bug and Spider Myths Squashed” was very interesting. I never realized that the difference between poison and venom was that poison was if you bit something and got poisoned, and venom was because something bit you and you got poisoned. I thought the article was also very good, I’ve been trying to tell people that you don’t swallow 7-8 spiders a year on your sleep for a while now, it really bugs (hehe, puns) me. But, I always thought that cockroaches could survive nuclear radiation, but, it really was just the fact that they can get food from just about anywhere. I think this article was trying to convince people that bugs and spiders aren’t that bad, and that they shouldn’t go running whenever there’s a bee, I never really was afraid of bugs that much to begin with, and the article gave me even more reasons to not be afraid of bugs.
ReplyDeleteI always did think that poison and vemon were the same things too. My Ancient Civ teacher told me the other day that we did swallow eight to ten bugs unknowingly a year. I have to agree with you that the article is trying to convince the readers that bugs and spiders aren't bad. (I like you pun).
DeleteWow, this article is truly revealing. Who would have thought that some mosquitoes were actually helping the environment and the flowers around us? As I was reading this article, I noticed it was a lot like mythbusters, where they take outrageous myths that people believe and prove them wrong. For example, before I read this I actually thought that cockroaches could withstand radiation and survive, just like the movie WALL-E. It was very interesting to me to learn that earwigs take care of their young, but it also scared me a little when I learned that daddy long legs have venom.
ReplyDeleteI agree this article was amazing. I also thought that cockroaches could survive radiation and its a great comparison with the movie
DeleteI thought that the article was very interesting. It debunked a few myths that I’d been curious about, and showed me some that I hadn’t. I’d never even heard of a mosquito hawk before! I still don’t like bugs, but I try not to kill spiders and bees. They’re useful, and don’t generally hurt people. Flies and mosquitos. on the other hand, I’ll gladly get out the bug spray for. If I wanted to see another myth debunked, it would be whether moths are really attracted to bright lights. I think it’s true, cause there's always moths in the gazebo where the light is, but it could just be a coincidence. I’ll try not to hurt moths, or most other types of bugs in the future, but I can’t make any promises!
ReplyDeleteI found this article very fascinating, and I was quite relieved to know that many of the myths I have been curious about are not true. I have wondered about some of these myths for quite some time, including whether we do or don’t swallow spiders in our sleep. That is actually terrifying to think about! One thing that truly did surprise me is how earwigs raise their young. I wasn’t aware that insects could be somewhat maternal in any way, considering they are bugs. It’s also crazy to think that all these creepy critters actually do help out the environment. They’re not just here to cause annoyance. One thing that I have always wondered is whether tarantula fangs can actually cause damage to a human because my dad has had one ever since I was little, and to be honest, it has always freaked me out just a little bit. It’s nice to know that they aren’t too dangerous... I have never actually had a true fear of bugs, and this article just verifies that they are really nothing to be scared of.
ReplyDeleteI has no idea that earwigs cared for their young either. I thought that was a really unique trait, and I wonder what it is about bugs that makes us automatically think that they shouldn't care for their young. Many other creatures take the time to raise their young, so why don't most bugs?
DeleteI agree that the article did do a good job of making bugs seem less scary, and without bugs, flowers and animals that eat insects would be hurt because bugs are an important part of nature too (though they can be annoying).
DeleteThis article is incredibly fascinating. I am so happy to find out that the scary stories my grandpa would tell me about what would happen if daddy long legs bite me, is a myth. He would tell me that if it pierced my skin I would get incredibly sick. I also thought that cockroaches could survive a nuclear war but I guess I was wrong. Although the information about the daddy long legs was enlightening I still will always and forever be frightened of bugs. I'm still going to call my brother to come and kill them for me. I would like to know if its true if you're wearing certain colors a mosquito will be more likely to bite you.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, "7 Bug and Spider Myths Squashed" I know a lot more about these types of bugs and spiders and discovered how interesting some of these bugs are. In the text, it talked about the speculations that you eat eight to ten spiders unknowing a year. I had heard this myth before, and after reading this I was happy that the myth had been proven wrong. Also, in the article it talked about daddy long leg and how "they have fangs, but they don't have venom" (Babbit 1). I had no idea that daddy long legs had fangs which makes me now feel a little more cautious around daddy long legs when I am trying to get rid of them in my house. Lastly, I read about crane flies and read that Texas A&M’s Tomberlin says "these insects won’t bite you, nor do they eat mosquitoes" (1). I had alway thought that those larger bug ate misquotes and the bugs made me feel like I wasn't get bit as bad when I was around them. All in all, after reading the articles I learned a lot of interesting stuff about bug and spiders.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting and informational article. I really liked it because I learned three interesting facts about insects. First those daddy long legs spiders are not actually spiders they’re arachnids. Also I learned that the crane fly will not bite you, I was terrified of these because I thought they were just giant mosquitoes. And one I’m happy about is that ear wigs don’t actually lay eggs in your ear, I always believed they did. I’m now less afraid of common bugs I’ll find in my house but I will still kill any insect in a heartbeat but know with less fear. Here’s an article I found with interesting facts about spiders. Here's a website with a lot of interesting bug facts.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.funology.com/facts-about-insects-and-bugs/
The link above gives fun random facts about bugs such as a snail can sleep for three years straight. One bug myth I've heard is that all spiders are females and that there are no poisonous insects in North America these I would like to know for sure.
I thought this article showed me that I should not be that afraid of spiders crawling in my mouth at night. In the article when it stated that spiders are scared of your heavy breathing, I was so relieved. Many people are scared of spiders but probably more spiders are afraid of us. So I need to calm down and just remember the myth is not true.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Michaela, I agree that I shouldn’t have to worry about spiders crawling in my mouth because they are scared of my heavy breathing. Even though I now know the myth is not true and that spiders are more afraid of us then we are of them, I am still very afraid of spiders.
DeleteI found this article to be attention grabbing because all of the bug myths I considered true, weren't (like 7 spiders crawling in your mouth when you sleep). What I love about this article was that I didn't know that a wolf spider bite could kill you. What was even better was when I found out that to cure someone you must dance...constantly! Even though spiders may be harmless at times, they still scare the living day light out me just observing them. Not just that, but I didn't know that mosquitoes were such a large help to the environment and its beautiful colors on flowers. Overall, I adored this article because it was extremely interesting about learning facts/myths about spiders and the meanings to them. Not just that, but how you may think mosquitoes are just annoying when in reality they make flowers beautiful. Think twice about smacking a mosquito.
ReplyDeletePrior to reading this article, I too heard about many of these myths. The one myth that I believed to be fact was that people unwillingly swallow an average of seven to eight spiders a year. It was enlightening to me to understand that simply breathing would frighten away a spider, which would suggest that consuming seven to eight spiders is not very realistic.
ReplyDeleteAnother myth I believed to be fact was, daddy longlegs (also known as harvestmen) have some of the deadliest venom in the world. Little did I know their fangs are too small to bite a human. It is my best guess that this myth was created by people who fear spiders.
The bug that I still question, is the cockroach. Is this bug prehistoric or have I been feed more myths? When gathering additional information (outside this article) I found out they don’t like the sun nor radiation. As confirmed by this article Cockroaches prefer a warm climate and probably wouldn't survive in a prolong winter. But does their ability to adapt overcome their dislikes? I don’t think so.
I believe that theses spider myths have come from folk lore, arachnophobics sharing their disease with others and the people who share the best stories at camp fires! An example of folk lore is when someone was bitten by a spider they believed that they had to dance in order for the person to survive.
I enjoyed this article because it debunked many myths that I held as truths. As a result of my new found knowledge, this article convinced me to be less afraid of bugs. Despite my knowledge I unforchantly believe that I will still be afraid of spiders, even though I know that most are likely low risk to my health. Going forward, I am less likely to grab a can of bug spray to protect against unfounded fears… except for those furry spiders.
I also believed in the myth that humans unwillingly swallow 7-8 spiders a year when I first heard of it. It really scared and grossed me out! Now I am relieved to know that they are scared of our heavy breathing and it's not likely to occur based off this article. Well that’s one myth down not to worry about!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I was always terrified of spiders, especially when I thought they were crawling into my mouth. Now, I'll just try to out them outside.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Nikhil, I always thought the same things about the big bugs, and I wish more animals would eat mosquitoes, I don't like them very much
ReplyDeleteThis article was extremely interesting! I am terrified of bugs, especially when I see close up pictures, but this article really helped my fear lessen. It makes me very happy to know that I’m not eating seven spiders when I sleep. Even if I didn’t know of some of these myths at first, knowing that they are true now is great so I don’t freak out if I end up hearing them later. I really enjoyed this article, especially because it kept my attention and I learned something new!
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ReplyDeleteI think that this article might be interesting to some people, but I mostly already either didn’t know that the myth they were talking about was a myth (ex. “Do crane flies eat mosquitoes?”) or already knew that the myth wasn’t true (ex. Daddy Longlegs have deadly venom but too small fangs to hurt us). This made the article a little bit like rehashing old news to me. Because of this article’s lack of impact, I’m still going to be using bug spray around mosquitoes and just as afraid of bugs and spiders. After all, just because they aren’t venomous doesn’t mean they aren’t intimidating. Along with that, I think it would be interesting to know if bugs and spiders actually get “afraid” of humans, sprouting from the phrase “they’re more scared of you than you are of it” and if they actually react to human presence at all.
I personally have mixed feelings about the article. I found it interesting that, “daddy longlegs have fangs but don’t have venom,” says Babbitt. But I really do not like bugs, especially spiders. I heard awhile ago that you eat eight to ten spiders each year which creeped me out, but by reading this article I was relieved to find out that that is just a myth, due to the fact that they would be scared of a person’s heavy breathing. Also, I learned that those huge mosquitoes that scares everyone is called a crane fly and doesn’t bite. I would still like to find out some more facts about the cockroaches and them almost getting extinct. The article really grabbed my attention and it relieved some of my fears of insects (except for spiders still). It was interesting to learn in some depth what some particular insects do and learn the facts. Other than spiders, I may rethink my decision to kill a bug or not.
ReplyDeleteThe article “7 Bug and Spider Myths Squashed” was a very intriguing article. It proved a lot of myths wrong, ones that I always thought were facts (like the daddy long leg myth about their venom). I liked the article very much and might be a little less afraid of bugs, but mostly I’ll think twice before killing mosquito. I had no idea how important they were for the environment. All of the myths that were proven wrong was very surprising to me and definitely makes me think differently about bugs.
ReplyDeleteI too found it interesting that some of these creepy insects have some sort of importance to the environment. Learning that mosquitoes have some significance to the pollination process will definitely make me hesitate the next time I swat one off of my arm.
DeleteOverall, I really liked this article. Previously I believed that people do swallow spiders, so for the last few years I have been paranoid, but now I feel better. The article convinced me that spiders wouldn’t crawl in my mouth even if it was open because they couldn’t stand something breathing so hard. Also, I have always been freaked out by those huge flies that look like giant mosquitoes, though they actually reduce the mosquitoes population which is reassuring. One myth or fact I would like to know is if bumblebees feel fuzzy or do they just look like they are? I have never had the chance to pet one. In conclusion, after reading the article I feel less afraid of bugs and next time I hear a creepy bug myth that might cause me to have very little sleep, I will look for the truth first.
ReplyDeleteBelow is a link to another cool bug website:
http://www.coolbugstuff.com/
The article was very interesting, what made it even better was the fact that the author aimed to inform people who were afraid of bugs. In reality most of the bugs talked about are relatively harmless. I found it mind blowing that most of these bug myths were actually not true and that people should leave the insects alone, rather than killing them. Something I found amazing was the fact that the daddy long leg myth was not true and that daddy long legs aren’t even considered spiders! After reading this article I will definitely be more hesitant around bugs and spiders knowing that I won’t be harmed.
ReplyDeleteI found the daddy long leg not being a spider was amazing too! I will also be less scared of bugs now too because none of the things I thought were true.
DeleteI was shocked that many of these myths I had always believed to be true ended up being false. I really enjoyed this article. This article must have gave many people who have fear of bugs tons of relieving information. I found it especially interesting that mosquitoes can also pollinate flowers.I always thought that bees were the main reason for the pollination of flowers. I also never knew that the reason mosquitoes took blood was so they could produce their eggs. Most of these bugs seem much more harmless after reading this article.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily Harrison. I found it very interesting how an insect can actually care for their young. This makes me wonder about the other bugs, and how they are helping out their young, or even us. This article really made me understand that every creepy crawler is here for a reason.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Josie Neville, I was also terrified about the crane flies, but now I feel sort of relieved to find that they don't actually bite you. Also, I was happy to find out that earwigs don't lay eggs in your ear. Lastly, I will still kill bugs with less fear, just like you said!
ReplyDeleteI thought this article was very interesting it gave me new insight on bug facts that I never knew before, while also clearing up myths that I thought were true but were lies. I thought it was interesting that Daddy long leg spiders have fangs, but they have no venom to cause any damage to you. I would have never thought that, that little spider would have fangs at all. Another thing I thought was cool was that there is a difference between venomous and poisonous. I always thought they were the same thing, but poisonous is because something bit you, and venom is just the toxin that goes into your body. After reading this article it did not make me more or less afraid of bugs because I was never scared of them in the first place if you don't bother the bug the bug wont bother you.
ReplyDeleteCockroaches are such the interesting bug, they are able to withstand so much until you call the bug guy to come get them out. With the spiders though I thought it was horrifying to hear that people would eat them willing. What if they had spider eggs ready to be laid and then you just ate them?! Yuck!
ReplyDeleteThe article “7 bug and Spider Myths Squashed” was a very bizarre article to read. I never knew all of these spider myths were fake. Before reading this article I was terrified of spiders and big bugs! I always believed that daddy long legs had venom in them. Now I know the myth about the daddy long leg spiders. They aren’t even spiders! I guess I have nothing to be afraid of anymore, but they are still really creepy! Another part of the article that fascinated me was the part about tarantulas. I always would think of them as this big deadly spider, and that if it bit you, you would die instantly! Good thing that’s not the case! They aren’t even that aggressive according to the article. I would like to know about more myths and if they are true or not!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement Mia, because I also thought that you swallowed 8 to 10 spiders a night. Good thing it's not true!
ReplyDeleteI thought the article about the myths of insects was very helpful yet scary. The part where they started talking about crane flies was my favorite one in terms of closure. I always thought that those giant mosquito things (crane flies) were just a larger than normal mosquito but now I know that i have been wrong the whole time. I did like the article because it taught me a lot of valuable information about insects that I did not know before. Now would this article make me want to go get a can of bug spray at the first sign of bugs? No it would not, because the only thing bug spray will protect you from is mosquitos so it would not really be to helpful. But if I started getting bit by mosquitos I would run to a can of bug spray right away.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article I thought that it was very interesting. It’s really cool hearing all these myths that I never knew about. I liked the article because I got to see the truth of some of the myths I kind of believed but didn't want to. I was so relieved that you actually don’t swallow seven to eight spiders a year. Though this article didn't make me less afraid of all bugs I am less afraid of certain ones. I was a little disappointed that a cockroach can’t survive a nuclear blast. I was also surprised to find out that Daddy Long Legs have no venom, I really thought that they did.
ReplyDeleteI too found it interesting how Daddy Long Legs have no venom, but I am glad cockroaches can't survive a nuclear blast.
DeleteIn response of Zachary Joswiak, I also thought that Daddy long legs did not have fangs, I would always pick them up as a kid when i saw one, but now i know not to get near to one just to make sure i don't get bitten.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Liam I also agree with your feeling for spiders on how they are scary. I also found it interesting to on how mosquitoes are a helpful insect for the environment especially the flowers.
ReplyDelete(Reply to Zach Joswiak) I know its amazing how such a small arachnid as the Daddy Long Leg can still have fangs yet are to small to have affect on us. Also, I too didn't know there was a difference between Venomous and Poisonous, I thought it was the same thing.
ReplyDeleteBugs and their myths have always interested me,because it always seems like no ever knows the truth. All the myths in the article I’ve heard many times before so i found it interesting that many of them were not true. I believe all these came from humans imaginations like “Old wives tales”. Either way this was great article that I didn't mind reading due to the fact that I’m kind of a nerd for mythology. This still didn't change my mind about bugs, I will still continue killing them for years to come.
ReplyDeleteI honestly believed that we unwittingly swallow an average of seven to eight spiders a year. I still wonder though where that statistic came from then if it isn’t true. Most of these myths were just things people made up that eventually people started to believe them. I thought this was a very interesting article due to that some of these myths I actually wondered about myself! Even though most of these myths aren’t true I will always be scared of spiders as wimpy as it sounds
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Rachel G. even pictures of spiders are enough to give me the creepy crawlies! But I'm surprised you've never heard of some of these myths! Interesting thought though!
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ReplyDeleteIn reply to Katelyn: I agree, it is refreshing to know that bugs are not crawling into our mouths while we are sleeping! I always believed that myth, and I am very glad that it is not true. The daddy longlegs rumor was relieving too; they sure look scary, so it is a good thing they are not a threat to humans.
In response to Gabe, I say I agree that even after reading this article that I will continue to kill spiders!
ReplyDeleteIn response with Caige I agree because i always thought that i swallowed spiders when i slept so its good to know that is false.
ReplyDelete(In response to Olivia) I agree that this article cleared up a lot of Old Wive's Tales, though I still despise bugs. In regards to the mosquito myth, I don't think hair color directly increases a mosquito's attraction to you, however it's possible that people with blonde hair tend to have a blood type that is more appealing.
ReplyDeletePrior to reading this article, I had believed all these myths except the earwigs one. I liked this article. I thought it was cool to see all the myths that have been heard for years put to rest. I was never afraid of bugs so I don’t think knowing any of this material will change my view on bugs. Mosquito cranes still look a little freaky though. I will still be reaching for the bug spray when the swarm of mosquito comes around during the summer. It is still nice to know that I will not being swallowing any spiders anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Josie. I would also like to know about the poisonous insects because I've heard we have poisonous spiders even in Crystal Lake.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to Jacob Epp. I did to believe that we swallowed 7-8 spiders a night. It makes me feel good that its a complete myth and that its not true.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read the article “7 Bug and Spider Myths Squashed” I learned that a lot of the myths I believed in weren't true. I believed in the “Daddy Long legs” myth when I first heard about it but now I know that they have fangs but they don’t even have any venom. I also believed in the myth about eating spiders in your sleep, It’s a relief knowing that they’re scared of us. I did like the article because it proved the myths that I believed in wrong and it helped me understand more about the bugs, as well as tell me what I thought I knew about them was wrong. I will still reach for bug spray when I see a mosquito, The article was interesting but I still am not willing to go outside without bug spray on.
ReplyDeleteThe myth I believed in was that cockroaches could survive a nuclear war. I am a little confused on the question, are tarantula fangs too wimpy to hurt you, though. I can’t seem to find a definite answer for that one. I do know one myth’s start. The myth stating we eat spiders in our sleep was created by a group of people (I think in an university.), trying to prove that people will believe anything they hear on the internet. What I thought about this article was mildly interesting. The reason why I say “mildly” interesting is because I knew some of the facts already. Although, I liked the article overall because it did some facts I did not know, but also relieves my anxiety towards bugs. After reading this, I think I’d treat bugs just the same, though, because most of the bugs that were mentioned in the article were not the bugs I see at home. A myth I like to be debunked is that spiders can harm you.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the article, I thought it was a perfect article in conclusion to our Bess beetle lab. I thought it was very interesting because I happened to think some of those myths were actually true. This article did help me a little to get over the fear of bugs. Although I still might pull out the bug spray every once in a while. Overall this article did give me a fresh perspective on bugs.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article about bug myths, I definitely feel less fearful of bugs. Prior to this I was always scared, that I would swallow spiders in my sleep. But now that I know, that spiders are actually afraid of our heavy breathing, I have one less thing to worry about. I also didn’t know that Daddy Long Legs aren’t actually spiders because of their body structure. They are arachnids, but don’t have the second body section that spiders do. I have to say though that even though I now know earwigs most likely won’t lay eggs in my ears, I still believe they’re pretty gross.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Emily Norris I totally agree. I understand that bugs help make our ecosystem work, but eating spiders is a definite no-go.
In response to Jacob Epp, I do agree that the article does not shape my opinion on bugs at all! The article didn't really touch base with the insects we share space with.
ReplyDeleteIn reply of Josie's post, I also learned new facts about bugs in this article. I found out that Daddy long legs spiders are technically not spiders. It also makes me feel better that spiders do not crawl in your mouth. Whew.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so on the spider thing, everyone was always like “Yeah, you swallow 8 spiders a year!”. Honestly, that is the dumbest thing I’ve heard and the article just helped me understand even more that there is no way a spider will crawl in your open mouth. A spider definitely has better things to do than crawl in your mouth. But something new I learned was the difference in between venom and poison. That was a super cool fact and I’m glad I know the difference. Basically all of these myths I have never believed. They just don’t make enough sense for me to believe! I’m kind of glad to know that cockroaches would not survive a nuclear war because I hate them. The only myth that I actually did believe was how a daddy long leg had poisonous fangs but could not bite you because their legs are too long. It actually made sense but now I understand that they are not actually in the spider family! After reading this article yes, I’m still going to be deathly afraid of any and all bugs but now I feel much better.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Faith, I agree with the stupidity of swallowing spiders, spiders are intelligent creatures, and would not crawl into a humans mouth without a good reason, which there should never be, sense most spiders trap insects, not hunt them down like a wolf.
DeleteIn response to Faith, I can admit that I, too, feel much better about my fear of bugs. Just like Faith, I had a hard time believing in the myth that we swallow about 8 spiders per year-now I can rest assured that this is in fact false. Also, I was glad to hear that cockroaches are weaker than we think and probably would not survive a nuclear war, which just goes to show that you can’t believe everything that happens in a Pixar movie!
DeleteIn response to Faith, I actually had thought that this was true for some time but after reading the article and Faith's response to it I feel quite stupid! Spiders do have a lot better things to do than crawl into our mouths as Faith earlier stated. What a rascal i am haha!
Deletethis was a very interesting,informational and relieving article. I am happy to know that the myths i believed are just myths. I was happy to find out that earwigs cant lay eggs in your ears, now maybe i wont be so freaked out the next time i encounter one. Another myth i had been believing for years was that daddy long legs have venom, even though their fangs are too small to harm people.I can certainly say that i am a little less afraid off them but i still carry a hatred for them and think of them as discusting
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to learn that we do not actually “eat” 8-10 spiders in our sleep, I've thought that it was true for a while, in world studies when talking about people eating bugs for food the concept of eating spiders in our sleep was mentioned. But I am relieved to hear that we do not actually eat spiders in our sleep, that would be creepy. Even though the article says that American cockroaches can only withstand 20,000 rads of radiation, how much is 20,000 rads? I also wonder if there is a different kind of cockroach that could withstand more radiation. Over all, I am relieved to hear that many of the myths that make some people squirm before going to sleep are not at all true. I don’t know if people just made up some of these myths to scare children or if they actually thought that they were right or if it just came from their natural fears.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting article. The one myth that I believed was that cockroaches could survive a nuclear war. The rest of the myths were just too hard to believe. I think it is interesting to know that daddy long legs really aren't spiders. I never really knew what made an arachnid a spider so that was a cool fact to find out.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Faith: It seems like most of the myths started as jokes and somehow got out and people started to believe them. They were hard to believe to begin with so I'm glad that they were proven false.
In response to jeremys post I also believed in the myth that cockroaches could survive a nuclear explosion. I was also very interested to find that daddy longlegs are not spiders.
DeleteI must say, this was an most impressive article! I never realized cockroaches couldn't survive much radiation, or earwigs don’t actually lay eggs in ears, I personally believed those myths for a great deal of my life. I personally loved this article very much, not just for the enlightening information it presented, but the realism it present! It showed that not all Insects, arachnids, and other “creepy crawlies” are just bugs, they're not out to kill you with their venom, outlive you and eventually rule the earth, or even nest in your ear canal. I hope this helps readers to be less scared of bugs, because have learned to be less afraid of earwigs from reading it. However, I still have some questions regarding some of the myths you conquered, I thought all spiders were arachnids? Are there separate categories of spiders, some insects and others arachnids? Another question struck me as I read this, where did earwigs get there name if they don't actually lay eggs in mammals ears? was it based on a wives tale? or a rumor? In conclusion I enjoyed reading this well researched article, keep doing what you're doing!
ReplyDeleteI was glad that earwigs do not crawl inside of human ears as well. I'm still wondering if they got their name from that myth, or somewhere else. The spider and arachnid thing was kind of confusing, but I think arachnids are a class and spiders are an order which means that spiders are essentially a subgroup of arachnids.
Delete This article was very fascinating and captivating to read on! Though some of these myths I haven't heard of, it was great to be assured of these not actually being facts. I thought it was interesting the types of myths being spread around, such as dancing to get rid of a spider bite. I learned that you shouldn't always believe myths, and will think to myself if this actually makes sense or has a scientific explanation. I also didn't know that there was a difference between venomous and poisonous! Spiders will always be creepy crawlers to me, but I am more relieved.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Shreya G. I also learned the difference between venomous and poisonous. In this day and age you never really know what to believe, but at least we know not to believe these myths! I will never be completely comfortable with insects and spiders.
DeleteI think the article was pretty informative, and helped clean up some of the myths that I believed. Like for example swallowing spiders. I didn’t think it was necessarily true, but I didn’t know for sure. Also though, the article was full of myths that I didn’t even know about such as the Daddy longlegs and their deadly venom. I liked the article because it really did inform. I don’t really think it’ll change my opinion on bugs and spiders though, because they’re still bugs and spiders which to me will always be horrifying.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog, I thought it was very interesting of how people crafted these myths about spiders and bugs, yet, considering the fact that most of them were difinatly proven to be a myth and no one really knows where they started. In my opinion, I would say that even though bugs and spiders and spiders are not exactly my favorite subject, I was still engaged into reading this article, especially by the name of the article. I was engaged like I said, because of the title, and I wanted to keep reading because the myths and tales were quite interesting. For me, even after reading this article, I don’t think that my fear of bugs has really changed that much, in fact, it may have grossed me out even more. I think that I will probably still reach for my bug spray at the sight of a mosquito.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Liam, I also didn't know the actual importance of mosquitos. It's good to see that they make flowers look nice and they're not just annoying insects!
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ReplyDeleteIn response to Emma S. I agree with you that fear of bugs (mostly spiders) was the result of my believing that their main purpose in life was to bite, jump on, or poison me. Of course, that’s just not true. I’m relieved that bugs won’t deliberately shoot their venom/poison in me, but am still wary when I see one.
I am on the same level as you. Though this article was engaging, yet relieving in some ways, i believe that I will still grab my bug spray at the sight of any insect, more in particular, a mosquito. Just a habit, as well as a fear.
ReplyDelete(Response to Timothy Murzanski) I was surprised too that cockroaches could not survive radiation either I always thought they were the super bug and could survive anything. Now I know they can't and they are just regular old bugs.
ReplyDeleteThis article was so interesting! I thought it was really cool that they talked about how you supposedly eat spiders in your sleep. To me, that whole myth never really had much weight on my decision about spiders. I really liked how they said the heavy breathing would scare them off, because from what I know, animals aren’t particularly stupid and wouldn’t just walk into a scary thing. I also thought it was interesting how they talked about mosquitoes. I still don’t like them, but I have a newfound appreciation for them, although when they come too close the bug spray is going to be coming out.
ReplyDeleteI found this article interesting too! I also have a hatred for bugs and although I may be slower to kill them, I still don't like them that much.
ReplyDeletei totally agree with the myth that we eat spiders. I hate spiders and it always grossed me out. I never knew daddy long legs supposedly had venom, but I'm glad that they don't have venom.
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ReplyDeleteThis article was a little relieving to know we don’t swallow spiders. I always hoped if that was true I wasn’t one of the people who swallowed the in their sleep. I’ve always hated bugs too, so this article helped me let go of some of it. I thought that tarantulas fangs couldn’t hurt you and that earwigs laid their eggs in your ears (or were just super obsessed with them). I still have questions about the cockroaches being able to survive a nuclear winter. The one scientist said that couldn’t withstand the radiation, but the other scientist thought if they could withstand the radiation they would be able to survive. So which scientist is correct? I was also wondering what group of arachnids were daddy long legs considered if they aren’t spiders. I thought the article was cool. If I didn’t read it I would’ve thought some of those were true. I liked the article it was a little creepy to have to look at those pictures while reading it, but it was still interesting. I still will reach for bug spray at the first sign of a mosquito, only because their bites are itchy.
This bug article was enGROSSing. I loved it. Many of the myths debunked I had heard previously and I enjoyed reading about the facts behind them. The bits about daddy long-legs and cockroaches were particularly intriguing because they were stories I'd heard before but had never quite figured out if they were true or not. I'm not particularly afraid of bugs or spiders to begin with, but despite the article's suggestion not to be mad a mosquitoes, they are still annoying and I will continue to squish them.
ReplyDeleteI'd still like see some more bug facts debunked. Is the deet in bug spray actually dangerous? Are bedbugs attracted to dirty places, and are they invisible to the naked eye?
I totally agree with your thoughts on mosquitoes and I also enjoyed the facts about the daddy long-legs. This article was very interesting, in reguards to the myths being debunked. Reguardless, I will always kills mosquitoes and spiders when I see them.
DeleteThat website is really interesting! I never knew that about moths. It's pretty gross that larvae caterpillars will eat human hair. I'm definitely not sleeping on my grandma's moth-eaten couches anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteThe "spider eating" myth creeped me out, too. I though maybe they were attracted to our saliva or something, but I'm relieved that it's false.
ReplyDeleteI have been afraid of spiders for as long as I can remember and thinking that eight spiders crawl in your mouth every year made me even more terrified. I actually liked reading this article because now every time I fall asleep I don’t have to worry about a spider crawling in my mouth. From reading this article, it made me a little less afraid of spiders knowing that they are more afraid of you then you are of them and that they won’t really bother you because all they are trying to do is spin a web and capture food. The article also influenced me to hate mosquitos less because they help pollinate flowers, but I will still grab for bug spray because of that West Niles virus.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how you felt relief in knowing that not once has a spider crawled into your mouth while your were sleeping. The thought of that being true is just creepy and disgusting.
DeleteI found this article to be quite riveting. I did not expect to find out that many of the myths I believed in about bugs were actually false. I enjoyed reading this article because it reassured me that things I once found to be extremely disgusting, such as us swallowing an average of 7-8 spiders per year, or that earwigs can lay eggs in our ears, were proved wrong. And even though it is said that mosquitoes help pollinate those beautiful flowers in our neighborhoods, I will still reach for a can of bug spray at first sight of one, because the itching from their bites is intolerable! And besides, why don’t we just leave the pollinating job for the bees!?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jacob: I agree that this article was interesting and well reassuring facts about spiders because I too hate bugs and to know that our thoughts on them were just myths and they are actually non harmful bugs is quite fascinating.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Faith Murphy, I agree that the myth about swallowing 8-10 spiders isn't very believable,because it's hard to believe that even one spider could be swallowed! It didn't seem like that is a way for spiders to crawl inside a person's mouth, and I feel like it would affect you. Overall, I'm also still terrified of spiders but am relieved'
ReplyDeleteI found this article quite shocking because I regrettably believed many of the debunked myths in the article. For example, I’ve thought that daddy long legs spiders were highly poisonous since I was a little kid, or I also thought that we did swallow spiders while we slept. Now these myths just seem absurd to believe in. I did like this article because it really changed my thinking, but also made me feel a bit childish that I still believed in some of these myths, however, I now can sleep easy knowing no spiders will be climbing into my mouth tonight, and I won’t wake up with baby earwigs crawling around in my ears.I am a bit disappointed that cockroaches can’t survive nuclear fallout though because that would just be really cool. After reading the article I’m definitely not afraid of bugs, but I still can’t stand mosquitos biting me, or any other irritating, itchy, or annoying bugs and bug bites
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Jaylynn! I was always nervous and grossed out when i heard that spiders crawl in your mouth at night! So, hearing that made me really happy and relieved. I will also still grab for the bug spray just to be sure that no mosquitoes will come near me.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy this article, I believed it gave a nice inside into the world of nature that surrounds us. Also it was overall an interesting article. This article did make me less weary of bugs. For example it talked about how a lot of spiders that we see are not poisonous. It also showed how most of the things that may creep you out about bugs are not true. Like how there is no actual evidence that supports the fact that we eat spiders in our sleep. Also I found it very interesting how the daddy longlegs are not actually spiders. Overall i found this article interesting, and eye opening. In the sense that there is not a lot to be afraid in the world of bugs.
ReplyDeleteIm very glad to hear that none of these rumors are true. But none the less i have never been really afraid of insects like the ones listed unless they can actually cause physical pain. I enjoyed reading about the myths because it was very factual and gave a second side to the rumor itself. Now i have no reason to freak out if i see one of these insects close to me.
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ReplyDeleteIt sure is good to know that there won’t be any earwigs laying eggs in my ear! The article, “7 Bug and Spider Myths Squashed”, by Jane Lee took me to stop believing my childhood myths about bugs and spiders. I enjoyed the article, but even if the myths aren’t true, I’m still a little scared of bugs and spiders. Charles Griswold says American species(of tarantulas) doesn’t have as dangerous as venom as Asian or African, and isn’t that aggressive. You still won’t find me near them! All the bug myths I’ve heard of were answered in the article, plus more. Overall, the rumors were squashed and I learned tons of new information about bugs and spiders.
In response to Mia Zebell, I also don't like bugs and spiders and was glad to hear that we don't eat eight to ten spiders a year in our sleep
ReplyDeleteThis article was very informative, but I feel it did not delve deep enough into some of the myths. I would have liked to hear more about how harvestmen have no venom; as that was the main rumor I knew of that was disproved. This article actually let me know of hearsays that I had never even heard of! But I am grateful I hadn't known, I would have been terrified to even go to sleep if I had known about all of these tales! It was very surprising that cockroaches are not invincible, but sensitive, and I love the tidbit about their flexible diet, explaining why the popular notion came to be. I will surely think of the mosquitos contribution to our flowers, but I can wait until after they are already squashed on my arm to consider them. I definitely will be less anxious the next time I see a bug, and I will sleep easier knowing my mouth is not serving as a playground for any creepy crawlies.
ReplyDeleteI thought this article was very interesting. It surprised me to know that daddy long legs actually do have fangs, but no venom and their legs are much too long for them to even reach something to bite. Although I was never necessarily afraid of them, it's nice to know there is no reason for me to fear. Another relieving fact was that I don't swallow spiders while I sleep. The fact that that was ever a myth really creeps me out, but I'm happy it was debunked. I do hate mosquitoes because they are quite annoying, but it's nice to know they have a reason for their evil. I thought this article was intriguing as a whole and helped me understand that bugs aren't all that bad.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Emma Soden, I totally agree with you. I too am a bit afraid of bugs, so this article was very relieving. The fact about the daddy long legs really made me happy to know they wont't be poisoning or biting me anytime soon.
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ReplyDeleteBy:Kaylie Jeter
After reading this article I feel like I have learned new information regarding the way bugs live. Before I believed in some of the things that were considered Myths, but after reading this article I am more conscious about how complex and organized the bugs are. Some of the articles that were attached to “7 Bug and spider Myths” are truly interesting. After countless researching through these articles I have a profound interest in the way bugs live. Some of the myths that I surprisingly believed were that you swallow about 8 spiders per year. But the expert that was being interviewed said “There’s absolutely no evidence whatsoever we swallow spiders, says Griswold he also that our breathing was too heavy for spiders to be curious enough to crawl into our mouths ( Lee “7 Bug and Spider Myths” National Geographic). Some of the questions I have were “what is the actual purpose of mosquitos?” I have always believed that these insects were pests and I still do but now I also know that they can help pollinate some of plants and flowers. I personally can’t put my finger on where exactly these myths came from but I was told from friends and family members from when I was younger, now I know what facts that I once speculated to be true is an elaborate myth. And now I choose to believe what can be a myth but what also is true.
I thought the article was very enlightening, and help calm me down about the skittery, creepy, and straight-up annoying bugs. Of course I was very relieved to see that the “eating spiders in your sleep” is a myth, and I would like to see other common misconceptions to be proven, or disproven. One more thing I found to be interesting is that mosquitos actually pollinate flowers and plants, as I thought they were just pests and were not needed at all in the ecosystem. I used to hate bees like mosquitos too, but I found out they were too important to have then be lost, so I have a weird respect for these two species, and all others who may help us in a symbiotic way. (even though the mosquitos can harm us.)
ReplyDeleteI thought that this article was very interesting because it talks about myths that aren’t all that true! I liked that article because it’s interesting and it gives you facts about the insects without boring you. But even after i read this article, i still think that insects are still scary either way. Just the way that they look make them scary or disgusting. I’d still get mosquito spray no matter what because I wouldn’t want to get my blood sucked by a lot of mosquitos. I think that there are enough mosquitos in the world, so why wouldn’t i get the mosquito spray? What i also found interesting about this article is that in other parts of the world people eat spiders or any other kind of bug. I think that it wouldn’t taste so good.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this article was very interesting, and that it provided a lot of useful information. I thought that it was very interesting to find out that daddy longlegs actually are not venomous at all and are not even spiders. Also I didn't know that mosquitoes feed on nectar and not blood and found that very interesting. This article definitely made me less afraid of bugs, and another myth I would like debunked is; After mating the female praying-mantis snips off the head of the male.
ReplyDeleteIn response to James Dalton: I also found it interesting that mosquitoes pollinate flowers. I always thought that they just flew around drinking blood, not nectar. This makes me wish they didn't exist a little bit less than I used to.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your notion to shiver when looking at the picture of a spider. Any time I even come close to a spider I shiver! I was also happy to know that swallowing spiders is just a myth.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Nikhil Richard I have believed for years that spiders would crawl into your mouth when you were asleep. I relieved to finally find out that they are afraid of you. I have “daddy long legs” in my house to. It’s reassuring to know that the “daddy long legs” are not venomous. I am glad to hear that most of these myths have been proved long.
ReplyDeletePrevious to reading this article, the myth of eating spiders had always been a myth that I believed to be true. It was a very interesting article in the fact that all of these myths were things that people believed to be real, when all along they were just a falsehood. I liked the way that the article was formatted to be answers to our questions and myths. This article definitely convinced me to be less afraid of spiders and bugs in general. I think that reading this article was a great way to be informed on myths and legends we always thought to be true. Another myth I wish they could have answered would be: Whether or not Mosquitoes can carry the West Nile Virus. Overall the article was very informative.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Max i liked the article and i think it told me a lot of things i thought were the other way around.
ReplyDeleteI found the article very interesting, especially the myth about earwigs. I found it interesting
ReplyDeletebecause I myself have wondered if the myth was true. The article did not necessarily change my mind on some bugs, but it did inform me on what to watch out for. I had heard about the Daddy Long Leg myth but was never quite sure if it was true or not. It just never sounded like something realistic to me. I also found it interesting that cockroaches could only survive the amount of radiation that they could. The myth about swallowing spiders is another one that never seemed very true to me.
In response to Jaylynn Kutz I agree I think mosquitos are slightly less annoying but still don't like them being around me.
Even though I'm not afraid of spiders the myths around them still were creepy. Especially the myth about swallowing six or seven spiders a year. But when I read this article I was relieved that thats not true and surprised about how many others were not true. But what intrigued me the most was the myth about Cockroaches being able to survive a nuclear fallout and how that they can not truly survive a nuclear fallout but that the annoying little fruit flies that show up everywhere can survive more radiation than the cockroach.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jack Rauh I would also like the myth of after mating the female praying mantis snips off the head off the male and I too found the fact that mosquitoes actually feed off of nectar and not blood interesting.
ReplyDeleteI like this article because I could relate to it because I had heard of some of these myths before hand.This article was very interesting as it pointed out some very important details that made me reconsider my slight fear of bugs and spiders. The fact that cockroaches could not survive a nuclear war made me feel better because I had heard this myth and it made me feel like if I ever saw a cockroach I could not do anything to stop it. I also heard that you swallow a few spiders every year while you sleep. I never thought it was possible and I’m glad that was put to rest. In conclusion bugs and spiders aren't as scary as everyone makes them seem. Some even help you by eating mosquitoes.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article”7 Bug And Spider Myths Squashed”, I think it was very educational, appeasing, and gratifying to me especially because whenever I get around, or come into contact with a bug, I can scream very loud. I liked this article very much because not only was the title intriguing, but what was contained in it also. For example, the paragraph about “ do we unwittingly swallow an average of seven to eight spiders a year?” gave me some worried thoughts after glimpsing at the title because who wants to swallow spider, any spider at all. But, after finishing reading the given paragraph it gave me easement because he made a great statement saying “If you have your mouth open, you’re probably breathing heavily, which would frighten them” which can thoroughly make sense. After reading the article”7 Bug And Spider Myths Squashed” it gave me easement but did not make me less afraid of these horrific looking things and sadly, yes I will still reach for my bug spray at first sight of a Mosquito and kill it. http://www.bugs.com/kids_corner/kids_corner.asp if you click on this link, this website has some very interesting facts about bugs. For example, I found out that bugs make up 90% of our world. A myth that I would like to see debunked on bugs is “You are never more than three feet from a spider.” because they said this is believed that scientist say there are microscopic spiders living on you. But are they just mistaking spider for Dust Mites.
ReplyDeleteI think this will just convince me not to believe everything you hear, even if the majority believes it. there are some myths that i suspect were not true, such as cockroaches and radiation, but i am disappointed that crane flies actually doesn't eat mosquitoes, they are so annoying!
ReplyDeleteI thought that this article was very educational and very mind opening. I liked this article because it stold us about all the myths about our creepy crawlers and told us that not all bugs and spiders are scary creepy crawlers. This article made me less afraid of bugs and to not want to smash them every time I see one. This article also put a lot of worries and myths I had of bugs and spiders to rest like that we swallow spiders when we sleep.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Kimberly P i always believed that the spider myth was true also now i can finally sleep in peace
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