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Filler
October 21, 1932
The Weekly Gazette
East Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
Article explains tarantula spiders: large runners from southern Europe, especially Italy's Taranto region; they ambush prey from silk-lined burrows. Myth: bite causes epilepsy cured by exhaustive dancing to specific music.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Poison Danced Away
The tarantula, commonly associated with stalks of bananas, is in reality any large running spider of the warm countries. The true tarantula is a native of southern Europe, principally in Italy. Because of its prevalence in Taranto, Italy, its name became associated with the city.
The tarantula does not build a web, but lives rather in a nest of holes or under rocks, nests which it lines with a silklike material.
It lies in wait for its prey, and as an unsuspecting bit of animated food goes by, the spider rushes out and seizes it.
It was believed at one time that its bite would bring on a certain type of epilepsy unless the victim of the bite danced to a particular type of music until exhaustion.
The tarantula, commonly associated with stalks of bananas, is in reality any large running spider of the warm countries. The true tarantula is a native of southern Europe, principally in Italy. Because of its prevalence in Taranto, Italy, its name became associated with the city.
The tarantula does not build a web, but lives rather in a nest of holes or under rocks, nests which it lines with a silklike material.
It lies in wait for its prey, and as an unsuspecting bit of animated food goes by, the spider rushes out and seizes it.
It was believed at one time that its bite would bring on a certain type of epilepsy unless the victim of the bite danced to a particular type of music until exhaustion.
What sub-type of article is it?
Animal Story
Curiosity
What keywords are associated?
Tarantula
Spider
Italy
Taranto
Bite
Dance
Epilepsy
Where did it happen?
Taranto, Italy; Southern Europe
Filler Details
Topic
Tarantula Spider Facts And Myth Of Bite Causing Dance Cured Epilepsy
Location
Taranto, Italy; Southern Europe
Event Details
The tarantula is a large running spider from warm countries, native to southern Europe, especially Italy, named after Taranto. It lives in holes or under rocks lined with silk, ambushes prey. Its bite was believed to cause epilepsy cured by dancing to exhaustion.