The latest exhibition at Queen Victoria Museum will have visitors in a spin.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Saturday about 60 spiders will be put on show as part of a touring exhibition from the Australian Museum and Questacon.
Spiders explores the facts and the fiction behind some of Australia’s deadliest arachnids and features Australian tarantulas, giant water spiders, Sydney funnel-webs and redbacks.
The exhibit also challenges visitors to confront their fears and get closer to some of nature’s most “misunderstood” creatures.
After flying into Launceston on Monday, live exhibition officer Kate Blount said the spiders had settled in well to their new Tasmanian climate.
In other news:
“They came in on a plane – so spiders on a plane,” she said.
“As most of them are tropical species, one of the most important things was ensuring they were kept warm.
“Spiders are an incredibly misunderstood species.
“There are about 100,000 of them believed to be in the world, and probably only a handful can actually do damage to a human.
“This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to change the way people think about spiders, because they really are more fascinating then they are scary.”
This week Ms Blount has been working closely with staff at QVMAG, to ensure the spiders are well cared for during their four month stint at the museum.
QVMAG director Richard Mulvaney said while he hadn’t quite overcome his own fear of spiders, he thoroughly enjoyed everything the exhibition had to offer.
“I first saw the exhibit at the Australian Museum in Sydney and I just thought it would be brilliant if we could get it here to Tasmania,” he said.
“I am afraid of spiders, but I think a lot of that fear comes from a lack of education.
“This exhibition has so much fascinating content and I think it offers a real chance for people to learn more about a species that is still surrounded by so many mysteries.”
Spiders invites visitors to learn about key spider characteristics including venom, silk, where they live, how they hunt their prey and how they have adapted to the changing environments.
What: Spiders exhibition
When: From Saturday, June 30 until October 28
Where: QVMAG at Inveresk
Cost: Entry is $5 or free for children aged under two. Tickets are available at the museum.
