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A new study has shown that urban areas are causing spiders to grow larger and multiply more rapidly.
Researchers collected more than two hundred golden orb weaver spiders from parks and bushland around Sydney in Australia and found that, when compared to their counterparts living in the wilds, the specimens appeared to be decidedly bigger.
As it turns out, city-dwelling arachnids grow to larger sizes, are better fed and have more babies than those living in the countryside.
The researchers believe that a number of factors may be contributing to this such as the tendency for street lights to attract insects that the spiders then catch and eat.
The paved surfaces and lack of vegetation also tend to make cities warmer, prompting spider growth.
Despite posing a problem for arachnophobes however a booming spider population is actually considered to a good thing in cities as not only do the arachnids help control pest species within urban areas but they are also a prime food source for the local birds as well.
originally posted by: pheonix358
I know you don't like them RR.
I have a very big friendly spider living in my letterbox and as long as he is in there, I am not bothered by anything else. Of course he is one of our friendly ones here in Australia and he is about the size of a small plate.
P
originally posted by: Rainbowresidue
Thanks for all the comments.
And DarknStormy ...
I don't think I'll ever go to Australia.
That poster right there, settled it for me.
originally posted by: Hellhound604
a reply to: DarknStormy
well, from that pic you can see how many insects that spider is eating. As for me, I love spiders, I can't understand why so many people hate them.