UC Davis doctoral candidates Xavier Zahnle and Emma Jochim and doctoral student Iris Quayle of the Jason Bond lab. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

It's a myth. There are no established populations of Loxoceles reclusa in California, doctoral candidates Emma Jochim and Xavier Zahnle of the Jason Bond arachnology lab related during their 30-minute mythbusting at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house, "Many Legged-Wonders," on Saturday, March 18. First-year doctoral student Iris Quayle of the Bond lab moderated the session. 

They study with their major professor Jason Bond, the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair in Insect Systematics, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and associate dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Jochim related that a person claiming to have been bitten by a brow recluse spider in California may have recently returned from a state where they are established or that they handled one that was shipped from that area.

That brings to mind the research of Rick Vetter of UC Riverside and his piece on "Myth of the Brown Recluse: Fact, Fear and Loathing."

"This website presents evidence for the lack of brown recluse spiders as part of the Californian spider fauna. Unfortunately, this contradicts what most Californians believe; beliefs that are born out of media-driven hyperbole and erroneous, anxiety-filled public hearsay which is further compounded by medical misdiagnoses. Although people are free to disagree, this opinion has come about after more than two decades of constant research resulting in many publications in the scientific and medical literature."

Vitter goes on to say: "Spiders are one group of arthropods that are very well known by the common person yet are terribly misunderstood; because of the rare occasion of a deleterious venom incident, almost all spiders are lumped into the category of 'squish first and ask questions later.' There are remarkably few spiders in California that are capable of causing injuries via biting. Overall, spiders are beneficial to humans in that they eat many pestiferous insects that either infest our foods (many phytophagous insects), are vectors of disease (flies, mosquitoes) or are aesthetically-challenged (cockroaches, earwigs). Unfortunately, humans have a low tolerance for spiders in their homes, either because spiders are symbols of danger, unkemptness or arachnophobia. One of the first steps one should take in dealing with these critters should be to identify them properly before blasting them with pesticide and/or getting hysterical."

Meanwhile, listen to UC Davis arachnologists:

Said one attendee: "Dr. Rick Vetter at U. C. Riverside fought the battle for the truth for decades and finally pretty much threw up his hands in defeat. He just couldn't get the media or California medical profession to stop claiming the Brown Recluse is HERE and diagnosing every little spot or open sore as a spider bite. My opinion is that people LIKE to think they were bitten by a brown recluse and wear it as a badge of honor. So much more thrilling than saying bacteria infection.”

You can work with model clay at the Bohart Museum open house to mold arachnids and myriapods.

That includes spiders. You've seen those adorable jumping spiders with green "fangs" (chelicerae), right? But have you even seen the green lynx spiders?

A few years ago we spotted a green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans, on a pink rockrose blossom. Arachnologists tell us it's usually found on green plants--green on green--which is exactly why we can't find it! 

Meanwhile, want to see and learn about spiders? 

Then you'll want to attend the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house, themed "Many Legged Wonders," from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 18 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane. Yes, it's free. So is parking. And yes, it's family friendly. The family arts-and-crafts activity, coordinated by UC Davis doctoral candidate Emma Jochim, of the Jason Bond arachnology lab will be working with model clay to mold arachnids and myriapods.

Jochim and fellow doctoral candidate Xavier Zahnle of the Bond lab will answer your questions about spiders from 1 to 1:30. First-year graduate student Iris Quayle of the Bond lab will moderate the session. Lab members also will show some "rarer live arachnids such as 'vinegaroons' and 'whip spiders' in addition to tarantulas and scorpions," Jochim said. "We will also have millipedes that people can handle and many species of isopods."

A showing of live animals and specimens is scheduled from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Elijah Shih, a third-year UC Davis transfer student who plans to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, will show his isopods. Bohart Museum research associate Brittany Kohler, the "zookeeper" of the Bohart petting zoo, will show the current tenants, which include tarantulas, black widows, a brown widow, a centipede, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, stick insects and ironclad beetles.

Of course, the tarantulas sport such endearing names as "Princess Herbert," "Peaches" and "Coco McFluffin."  Much better than "Killer," "Fang" or "Monster Man."

The Bohart Museum, part of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is directed by UC Davis distinguished professor Lynn Kimsey. It houses a global collection of eight million insect specimens, plus the live petting zoo, and a gift shop stocked with insect-themed books, posters, jewelry, t-shirts, hoodies and more. The Bohart Museum was founded in 1946 and named for UC Davis professor and noted entomologist Richard Bohart.

The Bohart Museum, dedicated to "understanding, documenting and communicating terrestrial arthropod diversity," is open to the public Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m. More information is available on the Bohart website at https://bohart.ucdavis.edu or by emailing bmuseum@ucdavis.edu. 

This is Peaches, a Chilean rose hair tarantula (Grammostola rosea) in the Bohart Museum's live petting zoo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

It featured primarily spiders.

Next week the Bohart Museum is adding more legs. It's hosting an open house themed "Many-Legged Wonders."

The event, free and open to the public, is set from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 18 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus.

You can expect to see spiders, millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, tarantulas and isopods. And more.

Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator for the Bohart announced that doctoral candidates Emma Jochim and Xavier Zahnle of the Jason Bond arachnology lab will dispel myths about spiders and millipedes at a question-and-answer session from 1 to 1:30. Doctoral student Iris Quayle will moderate.

From 1:30 to 4 p.m., will be the general open house with a showing of live animals and specimens. UC Davis student Elijah Shih will display his isopods. A family arts-and-crafts activity is also planned.

Research associate Brittany Kohler, the "zookeeper" of the Bohart petting zoo, says the current residents include: 

• Princess Herbert, a Brazilian salmon-pink bird-eating tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana), age estimated to be around 20 (current oldest resident)
• Peaches, a Chilean rose hair tarantula (Grammostola rosea)
• Coco McFluffin, a Chaco golden knee tarantula (Grammostola pulchripes) 
• Beatrice, a Vietnamese centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes), newest resident 
• Two black widows (Latrodectus hesperus)
• One brown widow  (Latrodectus geometricus)

Among the other residents are Madagascar hissing cockroaches, a giant cave cockroach, stick insects, a bark scorpion and ironclad beetles.

The Bohart Museum, directed by UC Davis distinguished professor Lynn Kimsey, houses a global collection of eight million insect specimens, plus the petting zoo and a gift shop stocked with insect-themed books, posters, jewelry, t-shirts, hoodies and more. Dedicated to "understanding, documenting and communicating terrestrial arthropod diversity," the Bohart Museum was founded in 1946 and named for UC Davis professor and noted entomologist Richard Bohart. The insect museum is open to the public Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m.

UC Davis doctoral candidate Emma Jochim of the Jason Bond arachnology lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, holds two Madagascar hissing cockroaches. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Just ask the scientists at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis, who rear them in their petting zoo. They show them at their open houses, including the recent UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, and invite folks to get acquainted. But first, they ask "Would you like to hold one?"

The reactions range from "No way! I'm outta here!" to "Yes, yes, of course!"

Finn Jensen, 2 1/2, of Davis, is in the latter category.

He watched as UC Davis doctoral candidate Emma Jochim of the Jason Bond arachnology lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, held up a hisser.

Finn could hardly wait. As Jochim gingerly dropped the insect in his hand, he beamed with delight. 

"He's been interested in bugs since he first went out and played in the dirt before he could walk," said Mom Jenna. "He loves exploring and helping in the garden while his dad gardens and they lift up logs at his preschool DCCNS (a parent cooperative pre-school) to search for bugs. I worked with flies in grad school so it's fun to see his be a little scientist too."

"This was his first time at both the Bohart Museum and Biodiversity Day," Jenna added, "and we are going back this week to see more. He loved seeing the scorpions that glowed and holding the walking stick bugs and touching the fish, turtles and snakes. He also loved coloring a 'frankenbat' and seeing the skull of a hippopotamus, it was huge!"

In addition to insects, Finn also likes trains "and things with wheels so the ag museum (California Agriculture Museum in Woodland) and railroad museum have been fun to go to lately. He enjoys gardening and yard work with his dad Brent, and going on walks at the Arboretum and Putah Creek."

The Bohart Museum, located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Directed by UC Davis distinguished professor Lynn Kimsey, it houses a worldwide collection of eight million insect specimens, a live "petting zoo" (Madagascar hissing cockroaches, stick insects and tarantulas) and an insect-themed gift shop.

Can I hold it? A Madagascar hissing cockroach settles into the palm of a hand. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Walking Sticks (5 species):

• Great thin stick insects (Ramulus nematodes), native to Malaysia, dimorphic (blue males)
• Borneo thorny stick insect (Aretaon asperrimus), native to Borneo
• Vietnamese stick insect (Medauroidea extradentata), native to Vietnam 
• Golden-eyed stick insect (Peruphasma schultei) native to Peru/Ecuador
• Australian Leaf insect (Extatosoma tiaratum), native to Northern forests of Australia 

• Princess Herbert, the Brazilian salmon-pink bird-eating tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana). She is estimated to be around 20 years old, the oldest current resident of the Bohart Museum
• Peaches, the Chilean rose hair tarantula (Grammostola rosea)
• Coco McFluffin, the Chaco golden knee tarantula (Grammostola pulchripes), native to Paraguay and Argentina 
• Two black widows (Latrodectus hesperus)
• One brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus) 

• Beatrice the Vietnamese centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes), the newest resident

• Ironclad beetles 
• Bark scorpion 

Want to hold a Madagascar hissing cockroach? Be sure to attend the Bohart Museum open house during the 109th annual UC Davis Picnic Day on Saturday, April 15.