Comments

  2. awomanofnoimportance says

    As one who actually does live in Florida, I always thought our spider kingdom was in Tallahassee, particularly the governor’s office and state legislature.

  4. birgerjohansson says

    The governor seems a bit like that space bug hiding inside human skin in the first Men In Black film but I am not certain about the subset of arthropoda.

  5. larpar says

    I don’t think spiders can read. A sign isn’t going to keep them confined to one area of the greenway.

  8. robro says

    I was by it long ago as a kid, probably around Ocala because my dad drove us through the area a few times on our way somewhere…probably Crystal River to go fishing. My dad, also a native Floridian, knew about the canal project so he spoke of it. I don’t think there was any sort of nature trail at that time, just a place with a wide break in the woods. Anyway, there are lots of spiders in Florida so you could have a field day, PZ. However, the mosquitoes, heat and humidity are killers. If you’re squeamish about roaches then best to stay away from Florida. Oh, and many of the people…not all…who live there are as annoying as the mosquitoes, heat, humidity, and roaches.

    Disney World is a no go. For some it’s a place where dreams come true. For me, that was nearly a nightmare.

  11. awomanofnoimportance says

    There isn’t a single mosquito in all of Florida. They’re all married with big families.

  12. Hemidactylus says

    robro @8
    I recall reading a bit years ago about the proposed Cross Florida Barge Canal project. The area the spiders are in is now named after Archie Carr’s wife:
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjorie_Harris_Carr

    Marjorie Harris Carr (March 26, 1915 – October 10, 1997) was an American scientist and environmental activist, well known for her conservation work in Florida. She was born in Boston and grew up in southwest Florida, where her parents taught her about native flora and fauna. After earning a Master of Science degree from the University of Florida in 1942, she went on to establish and lead several conservation efforts in the state, including co-founding the Alachua Audubon Society in 1960 and co-founding Florida Defenders of the Environment in 1969. Her work with Florida Defenders of the Environment — which continued until her death in 1997 — to preserve the Ocklawaha River Valley helped halt construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, which is now a public conservation and recreation area named in her honor in 1998. She was inducted in the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame in 1996. She was married to herpetologist Archie Carr from 1937 until his death in 1987; they had five children.

    Archie Carr was a legendary sea turtle biologist and has a refuge named after him.

  13. UnknownEric the Apostate says

    Spider Kingdom? Man, these Sony-made pseudo-Spider-Man movies are getting out of hand! :D

  14. consciousness razor says

    This is fake pseudoscience, PZ, real science. I didn’t know there are spiders in the sky.

  15. Pierce R. Butler says

    PZ Myers @ # 8: … Florida has nothing on Minnesota mosquitos.

    Except year-round activity and a lot more hemophagic competition.

  16. Hemidactylus says

    Pierce R. Butler @15
    As you probably well know Florida has the beloved love bugs. I just noticed a few today, early to the car smacking orgy. Just recently bought a newish white car and waxed it yesterday. Hopefully a mild season. I’d rather get a few mosquito bites than have to scrub bug guts off my hood and bumper before the paint gets pitted.