Program Night: Welcome to the World of Spiders

We are pleased to have as our speaker Rod Crawford from the Burke museum, who will give us a beginner’s introduction to spiders and debunk popular myths about these fascinating arachnids.  Rod’s presentation includes a slide lecture and is good for first grade level through adults.  Audiences are encouraged to bring spiders from home that they'd like identified.

Do you think you know something about spiders? The chances are good that nearly everything you think you know is a myth!  Spiders (nearly all harmless to humans) are the earth's most numerous land predators. Our state is home to at least 900 spider species. This program will introduce you to spider diversity, habitats, and behavior - all fascinating subjects.

Rod Crawford went to the University of Washington in 1970 as an undergraduate -- and never left.  His interest in spiders led him to volunteer at the Burke Museum in 1971, and today he's the curator of arachnids there. He has published widely on spiders, harvestmen, and cave biology, and has edited Scarabogram (newsletter of The Scarabs) since late 1985.  Rod recently completed six years on the multi-disciplinary International Kuril Islands Project, the object of which was to survey the flora and fauna of the remote Kuril Islands off the Pacific coast of Siberia.

Holding thousands of live spiders in his bare hands has brought Rod a lifetime total of two real spider bites, both insignificant.  Nonetheless, people keep telling him that spiders (who knows why) crawl into their beds and bite them every night!  Such widespread foolishness recently led him to create the Spider Myths Web Site at http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/.

Lynx Spider © Rod Crawford

Please join us Thursday, March 27, for Rod’s captivating presentation on spiders.  Come at 6:30 for socializing and a musical slide show.  At 7:00, enjoy a brief monthly meeting and refreshments break, followed by the main program at 7:45. The social hour, meeting, and presentation are free and open to the public.  Invite a friend or anyone who wants to know more about spiders and their myths.

Directions to Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, 308 4th Ave. S. (corner of 4th Ave. S. and State). Take I-405 exit 18 (NE 85th, Kirkland).  Drive west on Central Way to 3rd St. (stoplight). Turn left (south) on 3rd St. and follow it as it bears left and changes name to State St.  Turn left on 4th Ave S.