Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Walk Among Arachnids: Spider Pavilion to Open Later this Month
Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
()
Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
There may be no better way to get over your fear of spiders by entering a room full of them. Hundreds of them. And did we mention there were no barriers between you and the arachnids?
Now in its sixth year, the Spider Pavilion at the Natural History Museum is gearing up to launch at the end of this month. Visitors can walk through the 3,200 square foot habitat, check out 15 local and exotic spider species -- mostly orb weavers -- and their webs up close, watch them feed on crickets and roaches, and take tours to learn about web architecture and engineering.
Outside the building, which has a footprint of about 90 by 36 feet, will be a mini bug-zoo with other arachnids --think tarantulas and scorpions -- in enclosed cases.
Support for LAist comes from
()
Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
The goal of the Pavilion is to convey how harmless and gentle spiders actually are. "This is the attempt to talk about ecology from a spider's point of view, and doing so people will start to see these as living animals, not the monsters they think they are," said Brent "The Bug Guy" Karner, who manages the museum's invertebrate collection.
"They don't drop down and bite you and they are not inclined to bite us," he added. "They don't want to be seen, don't want to be touched and don't want to be handled."
Karner said there are 40,000 species in the world and only about 27 are potentially dangerous. In Los Angeles County, only two are among that group: black and brown widows.
The exhibit runs September 26th through November 7th. Timed tickets are sold in half-hour intervals throughout the day for up to $3. Visitors do not have to pay museum general admission as the pavilion is located on the South Lawn. On two Saturday nights -- October 9 on October 23 -- the exhibit will be opened for flashlight tours.
Related:
- Discovering L.A.'s Local Spiders through the Natural History Museum's Citizen Scientist Project
- Citizen Scientists Sought for Spider Survey in the Santa Monica Mountains
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist