I am no longer particularly squeamish about spiders. In fact, I've become rather attached to having a few of them around to keep the insects under control, particularly on the front porch. Right now there is a huge mass of webs in the open beams near the front door, filled with recently hatched spiderlings. I'm hoping that they will reduce the mosquito population a bit, although I suspect that not even spiders will eat those winged demons.

There are some things which will eat spiders, though, and that seems to include humans. Cambodian humans, anyway, and the occasional westerner with a taste for the unusual. If the idea of eating deep-fried tarantula doesn't put you off your feed, or if your boundless curiosity gets the better of your common sense, or if — heavens help us — eating giant hairy spiders sounds delish, the read all about the spiderwomen of Skuon.

Fair warning, though. The link contains photos of fried tarantulas heaped on a platter like cheese fries, if cheese fries had hair and eyes.