#and like-- if you're cool about most spiders you're already way cooler about spiders in general than a lot of people

[blujayonthewing]

Most spiders are cool with me but wolf spiders freak me the hell out. Rescued one from my dad's pool years ago and the second I set it down on the ground all of its babies (which I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT) scattered. I know in theory they are harmless friends but in practice their presence makes me so uncomfortable. I still don't kill them though.

that's fair! the babies thing IS kind of alarming to see, especially if you're not ready for it ^^;; if it helps, spiderlings only stay with their mother for a couple of weeks and, during that time, only leave her if disturbed, so it's reasonably unlikely that any given individual will explode babies (I've only ever seen mother wolfs carrying babies a couple of times, myself). many wolf spiders also closely resemble members of several other families of spider, so it's also fairly likely that any given wolf spider is actually a male grass spider looking for a girlfriend! I know that doesn't necessarily tip the balance on a gut discomfort, though ^^;

wolf spiders are also completely unique in this kind of parental care, and extremely rare among spiders for doing any parental care at all! another family of spiders known for protecting and providing for their young after they're born are literally named for the behavior (the nursery-web spiders: they build a shelter for their young to live in, and watch over them until they disperse). both families are active hunters (they don't build webs) and also carry their eggs with them; wolf spiders drag the eggsac behind attached to the spinnerets, and nursery web spiders carry them SUPER awkwardly under their bellies for some reason?? the families are very visually similar (the most reliable way to tell them apart is by how their eyes are arranged) but some nursery spiders get FUCKIN, COLOSSAL, so if you've ever seen a wolf spider the size of a goddamn dinner plate it was probably actually a nursery web or fishing spider, lmao. ...this is all completely unrelated to your ask, btw, I'm just on a stream of consciousness spider tangent now cause I think they're neat 👉👈

#antique-symbolism-main #[grabbing myself by the throat to stop from Going On about fishing spiders in particular cause I love them so much] #I've only ever seen wolf babies scatter like that in videos online and like. man. I LIKE spiders but it IS pretty horrible to look at fgkjh #babies clinging onto mother is also imho pretty uncomfortable to look at (turns out I DO have a Too Many Legs creepiness threshold) #ALSO wolf spiders' eyes are reflective so shining a flashlight on a mama with babies is ALSO uhh a hell of a thing sdkjhfdk #ALL OF THAT BEING SAID!! it's super normal to be uncomfortable about ANY spiders! I know I'm an outlier to say the least haha #I don't expect people to like them! tbh I don't even expect people who are really scared of them not to kill them #but it is a little disappointing when getting rid of them another way is an option that people REFUSE to even entertain #like-- they're not pests in an actually harmful sense-- if they CAN be removed gently there's no downside to doing so :\ #uh but people who go out of their way to smash a spider when you already said 'don't kill it! I'll get it :)' are just dickheads :) #ANYWAY HEY SORRY I RAMBLED ABOUT SPIDERS SO MUCH!! TL;DR YOU'RE COMPLETELY VALID AND I LOVE YOU #and like-- if you're cool about most spiders you're already way cooler about spiders in general than a lot of people #and I'm blowing kisses at you for it #about me #spider #spiders

[stxrmapper]

Persephone drug Scout back to her shared apartment, in a pair of platforms that pushed her a good deal past her 5'9 height and a tied tanktop, meaning it came up like a croptop. She pushed open the door into the main room, where Hades was sitting on the couch- in his own loose clothes and....also a croptop, his being tighter. They had similar clothing styles it seemed, and Persephone gestured to him. "That's Hades, he's the snake owner. He's also a complete loser." She teased, and Hades rolled his eyes shooting her a look as he set down his book.

"Enough of him though- you totally wanna meet my lizards first because I am cooler andddd my pets are way safer. He has a King Cobra and I know you're an Exo and all but I think it'd give you an awful stomach ache regardless... You should meet Adramalech first, he's my Caiman, very nice." Persephone grinned, holding on of Scout's hands.

"Adramalech bites anyone who isn't her, don't be fooled." Hades piped up, leaning closer over the couch arm and towards Scout. He had a tattoo on his throat, and he leaned his head back, looking at Scout upside down and expising his throat and subsequently the tattoo of the cats skull more. "Mine don't. Even the King Cobra is nice, you could even hold them... spend time with me pretty boy." He grinned, lip rings glinting in the light as he gave a small wink. He had tattoos lining his arms too, sleeves of red and black, hints of green in various designs- mostly snakes and skulls, with flower accents.

Scout's antennae had immediately perked up at the opportunity to go and meet Persephone's pets - Hades was a cool bonus too, seeing as he'd never met the other, but the pets certainly seemed to take priority in his mind. He didn't know too many people who had more than just cats, dogs and birds (and who also didn't have spiders, because apparently most people who owned reptiles also took a liking to spiders which meant he just couldn't be friends with them) and so it was always fun to meet someone who did have more exotic animals.

"I dunno, snakes are pretty damn cool. Not sure if I'd call it a loser move to own 'em, so he's already off to a good start in my book. Unless you're an asshole but I mean, I guess I could overlook that if I getta see the snakes." His attention seemed to be quickly drawn back to Persephone.

So much choice, but to be fair, he'd never actually seen a caiman before. "Mm, you do make a convincing argument though..." Oh, but then Hades immediately seemed to claw back at his mind, dragging his attention back. "That sounds like a pretty good offer," the tattoos had definitely caught his eye, and Scout was curious in asking about them.

Then again, seeing as some of them were snakes, it probably wasn't too much of a stretch to assume.

He approached Hades, with a glance towards Persephone - maybe apologetic, maybe teasing, who knew. "You have my attention, handsome~"

#prince of a thousand enemies | scout #persephone | dredgenshrike #hades | dredgenshrike #ic #ask answered