You Swallow 8 Spiders a Year While Sleeping

On average, a person swallows 8 spiders a year while sleeping.

  • The Actual Myth: On average, a person swallows 8 spiders a year while sleeping.
  • The Reason it Got Popular:
    • It likely originated as an urban legend or prank meant to exploit people’s fear of spiders.
    • The internet and word-of-mouth spread this shocking claim as a "fun fact."
    • It plays into the natural aversion many people have toward insects and arachnids.
  • The Need for Debunking:
    • This myth needlessly feeds into arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
    • It spreads misinformation, distracting people from real health and hygiene concerns related to pests.
  • The Time It Originated: First mentioned in the 1990s, reportedly as a fabricated claim to show how gullible people could be about pseudoscientific "facts."

The Actual Fact

There is no evidence to support the idea that people swallow spiders while sleeping. Spiders avoid humans and rarely crawl into their mouths.

  • The Actual Fact: There is no evidence to support the idea that people swallow spiders while sleeping. Spiders avoid humans and rarely crawl into their mouths.
  • The Proofs Behind the Fact:
    1. Behavior of Spiders:
      • Spiders are sensitive to vibrations and avoid humans, as we are perceived as predators.
    2. Scientific Observations:
      • Studies and anecdotal evidence from entomologists show no basis for the "8 spiders a year" claim.
    3. Practicality of the Claim:
      • For a spider to enter a sleeping person's mouth, the environment, circumstances, and behavior of the spider would need to align in a highly unlikely manner.
  • How It Can Benefit Us:
    • Reduces unnecessary anxiety about spiders.
    • Encourages understanding and appreciation for the role of spiders in controlling insect populations.

Some Related Facts

  • Fear of Spiders: Arachnophobia is one of the most common specific phobias, though most spiders are harmless to humans.
  • Spiders’ Role in Nature:Spiders help control pest populations, contributing to ecological balance.
  • Other Myths: The idea that spiders "hunt" humans or seek us out is entirely false.