Debunking tarantula myths

Scared of tarantulas? You're not alone — but Jeni Ruisch, director of outreach for the entomology department at The Ohio State University, is here to debunk their bad reputation.

two tarantulas crawling on a woman with text reading Tarantulas

Tarantulas: friends or foes? Many people take one look at these spiders and incorrectly characterize them as scary and dangerous. In fact, they have been villainized and feared as early as the 15th century. So, what's the truth? Do tarantulas deserve their bad reputation?

Jeni Ruisch, director of outreach for the entomology department, joins us in this Knowledge Drop with a few of her arachnid friends to explain what tarantulas are really like, and why society's negative perception of these spiders isn't exactly accurate.