And no, the pestcontrol website doesn’t count. It doesn’t cite any sources and pest control companies have a self interesst in exaggerating claims about the dangers of all kinds of bugs.
I can’t provide you a source that you’d probably accept on the spot, since plenty of these, including scientific ones use terms “venomous” and “poisonous” interchangeably. I can direct you to the entry in Wikipedia, that lists mere 15 edible species of spiders, instead of saying “pretty much each and everyone is edible”:
Now, I assume you’re thinking “I can swallow a spider and it won’t kill me, therefore they can’t be considered poisonous”. This isn’t true. You CAN eat plenty of spiders and you will absolutely survive it. You may even not suffer much problems because of that, like stomach irritation, or diarrhea, but that’s because the poison they contain isn’t powerful enough to seriously harm you.
Side note: an “interesting” thing may happen if you eat a venomous spider, while suffering from an open wound in your digestive system. I think there was an episode of “100 ways to die” dedicate to this idea. Or was it snake’s venom?
I can direct you to the entry in Wikipedia, that lists mere 15 edible species of spiders, instead of saying “pretty much each and everyone is edible”:
I’m well aware that people eat spiders. One of the spiders in this wiki is Trichonephila edulis, with “edulis” literally meaning “edible”.
But there is no mention of posion of any ill effect at all.
Now, I assume you’re thinking “I can swallow a spider and it won’t kill me, therefore they can’t be considered poisonous”. This isn’t true
Why not? The definition of “poisonous” I looked up is:
(of a substance or plant) causing or capable of causing death or illness if taken into the body.
That seems to fix exactly!
You may even not suffer much problems because of that, like stomach irritation, or diarrhea, but that’s because the poison they contain isn’t powerful enough to seriously harm you.
By that definition a taco is poisonous as well.
Ok, here is my counterpoint, I actually already made it in another comment. Spiders are a very popular prey. Lizards, rodents, birds … everyone eats spiders. Yet, they don’t die. My cat probably ate a spider today, I can’t find it anymore. It was a rather big Zoropsis spinimana. Yet, my cat probably will live. And they are so much smaller than a human.
Or was it snake’s venom?
I also mentioned that in the other comment. While ingested venom can be dangerous, spiders don’t have as potant venoms and are much smaller. So you’d really have to eat an unrealistic amount of spiders to feel any kind of effect from posion.
That’s a bit like eating enough bananas to die of radiation sickness …
I don’t need help. But I would urge you to not spread misinformation about spiders, I like them. Well actually you told people not to eat them … I support that. But you did it for the wrong reasons.
My good dude, what I said is correct and you’re going to hear it from me every time the topic of eating spiders is going to be brought up. I simply can’t find it in myself to waste the rest of this evening trying to convince a guy who expects argument, not a discussion.
Feel free to treat it as “a win” or whatever suits you.
you’re going to hear it from me every time the topic of eating spiders is going to be brought
I’m ok with that. It’s a very, very … very weird hill to die on, but till next time I guess?
You do realise I’m also against eating spiders? I just don’t think we need to tell people they are poisonous to do so. I’ve interviewed a few people and they are very much pro not eating spiders. I don’t think we have to lie about them being poisonous at all!
I ate spiders where they are served as a meal. And I still enjoy their companionship. This does not and won’t prevent me from pointing out that they are indeed poisonous - plenty of them in fact.
It’s the same thing as with certain mushrooms. The dose makes a poison. In case of spiders, eating one or two won’t do you much harm.
But that doesn’t make sense. Yes, the dose makes the poison. But by that standard everything is poisounus, even freaking water.
You are stretching the word beyond it’s meaning. You could easily eat an entire bowl of common spiders around your house with no ill effects. Not sure what happens if you eat a bowl of Atrax robustus, but apperently no one was yet stupid enough to try it, so we don’t know.
I did and there is no source for that claim.
And no, the pestcontrol website doesn’t count. It doesn’t cite any sources and pest control companies have a self interesst in exaggerating claims about the dangers of all kinds of bugs.
Ok, let’s try this out:
I can’t provide you a source that you’d probably accept on the spot, since plenty of these, including scientific ones use terms “venomous” and “poisonous” interchangeably. I can direct you to the entry in Wikipedia, that lists mere 15 edible species of spiders, instead of saying “pretty much each and everyone is edible”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachnids_as_food#Spiders
Now, I assume you’re thinking “I can swallow a spider and it won’t kill me, therefore they can’t be considered poisonous”. This isn’t true. You CAN eat plenty of spiders and you will absolutely survive it. You may even not suffer much problems because of that, like stomach irritation, or diarrhea, but that’s because the poison they contain isn’t powerful enough to seriously harm you.
But do not take it as a green light to eat spiders. They are poisonous. They aren’t meant to be eaten. Especially since nobody in his sane mind entertains an idea of eating large quantities of them, much like a certain comic-book villain did.
Side note: an “interesting” thing may happen if you eat a venomous spider, while suffering from an open wound in your digestive system. I think there was an episode of “100 ways to die” dedicate to this idea. Or was it snake’s venom?
I’m well aware that people eat spiders. One of the spiders in this wiki is Trichonephila edulis, with “edulis” literally meaning “edible”.
But there is no mention of posion of any ill effect at all.
Why not? The definition of “poisonous” I looked up is:
That seems to fix exactly!
By that definition a taco is poisonous as well.
Ok, here is my counterpoint, I actually already made it in another comment. Spiders are a very popular prey. Lizards, rodents, birds … everyone eats spiders. Yet, they don’t die. My cat probably ate a spider today, I can’t find it anymore. It was a rather big Zoropsis spinimana. Yet, my cat probably will live. And they are so much smaller than a human.
I also mentioned that in the other comment. While ingested venom can be dangerous, spiders don’t have as potant venoms and are much smaller. So you’d really have to eat an unrealistic amount of spiders to feel any kind of effect from posion.
That’s a bit like eating enough bananas to die of radiation sickness …
I can’t help you, sorry.
I don’t need help. But I would urge you to not spread misinformation about spiders, I like them. Well actually you told people not to eat them … I support that. But you did it for the wrong reasons.
My good dude, what I said is correct and you’re going to hear it from me every time the topic of eating spiders is going to be brought up. I simply can’t find it in myself to waste the rest of this evening trying to convince a guy who expects argument, not a discussion.
Feel free to treat it as “a win” or whatever suits you.
I’m ok with that. It’s a very, very … very weird hill to die on, but till next time I guess?
You do realise I’m also against eating spiders? I just don’t think we need to tell people they are poisonous to do so. I’ve interviewed a few people and they are very much pro not eating spiders. I don’t think we have to lie about them being poisonous at all!
I ate spiders where they are served as a meal. And I still enjoy their companionship. This does not and won’t prevent me from pointing out that they are indeed poisonous - plenty of them in fact.
It’s the same thing as with certain mushrooms. The dose makes a poison. In case of spiders, eating one or two won’t do you much harm.
But that doesn’t make sense. Yes, the dose makes the poison. But by that standard everything is poisounus, even freaking water.
You are stretching the word beyond it’s meaning. You could easily eat an entire bowl of common spiders around your house with no ill effects. Not sure what happens if you eat a bowl of Atrax robustus, but apperently no one was yet stupid enough to try it, so we don’t know.
So stop spreading shit that isn’t true. Please.