World Spider Day At Butterfly Pavilion
March 2, 2020 · Blog
PLEASE NOTE: World Spider Day on March 14, 2020 has been cancelled due the facility’s temporary closure. Read more >>
By Leanne Deschenes, Registration and Communication Coordinator
What is your favorite day of the year? Mine is March 14th. Falling about a week before the spring equinox, it marks a time when the days get longer and the ice in Big Dry Creek behind Butterfly Pavilion starts to melt. There are signs of spring and remnants of winter, two very special seasons here in Colorado. The reason I am most excited for this day, however, is because it is World Spider Day! This year, Butterfly Pavilion is going all-out to celebrate.
Spiders are extraordinary creatures that help humans tremendously, making it no surprise to arachnid-enthusiasts that they’ve earned their own holiday. Some spiders prey on insects that are considered pests and are used by farmers in place of pesticides. Spiders are also excellent bio-indicators, meaning that fluctuations in their populations can tell us about the health of the environments they inhabit. Some species’ venom is used to make medicine for heart disease, muscular dystrophy and chronic pain, and their silk is being studied for use in medical sutures. Spiders are as diverse as they are helpful, with over 40,000 different species in the world!
To get ready for World Spider Day, and to learn more about what makes them unique, I decided to observe some of Butterfly Pavilion’s resident arachnids in the Colorado Backyard exhibit. Here’s what I discovered:
Colorado tarantula
The brown-and-tan Colorado tarantula found in Colorado Backyard is a calm, patient critter. Its habitat provides lots of burrows for hiding, but today the tarantula was in clear view. It remained still as children watched from the viewing dome, casting shadows over the animal’s photoreceptors. If only I could stay as still while sitting at my desk!
Cellar Spider
The Cellar spider looks remarkably different from the Colorado tarantula. given its smooth, spindly legs and translucent, tan body. It is no wonder that these long-legged arachnids can be mistaken for harvestmen, or daddy long-legs, which look similar, but are in a different order, than spiders. As I observed the animal in its dimly lit habitat, I could understand why the Cellar spider is named for its fondness of small, dark corners. If I see one in my basement I’ll leave it be, and thank it for eating those pesky fruit flies!
Jumping Spider
The jumping spiders featured in Colorado Backyard are my favorite. With big, round photoreceptors that resemble googly-eyes and a tiny, fuzzy body, the jumping spider looks like a miniature version of your favorite childhood stuffed animal. Although this cutie was stationary while I observed it, I knew that it could dash away with its hyper-fast hop if it wanted to. If I’m lucky enough to find one in my home, I’ll bring this outdoor-loving arachnid into my garden.
While these are just a few of the spiders found at Butterfly Pavilion, they are also many more that share our great state of Colorado with us. This close proximity means they’re also the spiders easiest for me to conserve! If you encounter a local spider, I encourage you to react with fascination rather than fright (even if it feels a little scary). World Spider Day at Butterfly Pavilion is a great opportunity to get started!
Whether you’re a lifelong spider-saver or new to saying “no” to squishing specimens, there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about arachnids at Butterfly Pavilion. According to Brittany Oram, Camp Lead and Exhibit Interpreter, “World Spider Day at Butterfly Pavilion is a chance for guests of all ages to learn about our eight-legged friends. Through animal encounters, zookeeper talks, scavenger hunts and games, guests will come to appreciate the many things all arachnids do in their daily lives.” Brittany and the Butterfly Pavilion team invite you in on Saturday, March 14 to join the fun. You might even end up with a new favorite holiday!
For more information on World Spider Day at Butterfly Pavilion, click here to learn more! This experience is included with General Admission and free for current Butterfly Pavilion members.
