<p>1. Eight Legged Monsters</p><p>Thirty four thousand species of spider are known to science. Almost all are poisonous… …at least to their prey. And some, even to us.</p><p>Spiders are venomous creatures with which we share our lives most intimately. They can be found in almost every household world-wide. Most humans manage to coexist happily with spiders. But though most are completely harmless to us, for some people they are the ultimate symbol of terror. </p><p>Sticky webs are visible signs of spider activity. Intricate and variable, they trap unwary prey. Tropical Golden Orb spiders build the largest webs. Some as big as one and a half metres in circumference. A fly stumbles into the spider’s lair. </p><p>The spider bites and injects a toxic venom It wraps its prey in silk, to be eaten later. Webs are perfect traps for airborne prey. A butterfly crashing into a web stands little chance of escape. The spider’s venom makes sure of that.</p><p>Trapdoor spiders carefully excavate a tunnel and use silken thread to bind together a trapdoor. The trapdoor is carefully camouflaged with twigs and leaves. The hungry spider lies in wait. They are acutely sensitive to touch and vibration. The surprise attack is followed by a lethal bite and the prey is dragged into the spider’s tomb.</p><p>A still pool in South America, and a newly hatched tadpole swims to the surface. Unaware, that an expert fisherman, a Raft spider, waits silently. The spiders’ vibration-sensitive hairs detect the slightest movement in the water beneath it.</p><p>The spider strikes swiftly and the tadpole’s brief life is sealed. When spiders cross paths, their instinct is to attack each other. So the urge to mate can be a risky game for the male spider.</p><p>The smaller, male tarantula must perform a courting ritual to convince the large female that he is ready to mate. Spiders are not immune to their own venom, and he must be careful that he does not end up as her next meal.</p><p>The Brazilian Wandering Spider is one of the deadliest stingers in the world. Its venom is potentially lethal to human beings.</p><p>An unknown number die from the bite of this fearful eight legged monster.</p>