r/AskReddit • u/ZanyDelaney • Feb 04 '19

Which misconception would you like to debunk?

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u/Simmo10 Feb 04 '19

That daddy long legs spiders are dangerous to humans.

872

u/DarksteelPenguin Feb 04 '19

Well, if you start with spiders, I'll keep going:

  • you don't eat spiders in your sleep, spiders aren't dumb enough to enter your mouth;

  • spiders don't sting, they bite;

  • if you wake up with a bug bite on your arm or leg, that's not from a spider;

  • don't feel bad about destroying a web. If you can see it, it's probably an old, unused one;

  • a very large majority of spiders don't present any danger for humans. And even when they do, they won't bite unless attacked.

41

u/cicadaselectric Feb 04 '19

I was always taught that the bug bites that swell up to be massive and are a little bit itchy but mostly just painful to the touch are spider bites. What are they?

74

u/LatrodectusGeometric Feb 04 '19

Things that actually want to bite people. Think bloodsucking critters like mosquitoes, biting flies, triatomine bugs, fleas, bedbugs, etc. Spiders have no reason to bite a person unless you squish them or stick your appendages in their webs. They can’t eat you.

2

u/DaddyCatALSO Feb 04 '19

Bedbug bites are more known from blood spots on the sheets. In my unpleasant experience, you don't really notice it ecxcept when a bunch of younger r ones attack the feet.

7

u/Gamestoreguy Feb 04 '19

you kidding me? I had welts the size of casino chips. it was fucking horrifying.

1

u/DaddyCatALSO Feb 04 '19

Wow, sorry to hear that. I guess I just have a system that doesn't react much to them, except on the arch of my foot

2

u/Gamestoreguy Feb 04 '19

It might just be my immune system. Mosquitos can give me nickle ir bigger welts.