Professor James Logan has finally settled one of the internet's creepiest myths, revealing whether we really swallow spiders in our sleep every year. Appearing on This Morning, the professor addressed common questions about the eight-legged creatures.
Spiders Avoid Humans at Night
Professor Logan explained there is little truth behind the claim that spiders crawl into your mouth at night. He said: "I heard that so much growing up. You know, spiders crawl across your face, in your mouth and you swallow them and all that kind of stuff." He added: "It's not true. Maybe occasionally it might happen on a very rare occasion. Why would they want to go near your mouth? It doesn't make any sense."
The expert noted that if you're snoring or breathing heavily during sleep, it's even less likely a spider would venture near you. He added: "If you're snoring heavily and breathing, it's just going to put them off. Actually, they're going to avoid you."
Spider Bites Are Rare
The professor also addressed worries about dangerous spiders in the UK, reassuring viewers that while virtually every spider is capable of biting, the vast majority can't even break through human skin. "Pretty much every spider can bite, but most spiders can't penetrate our skin," he said. "Most spiders would never want to bite us because why would they? We're nothing to them. They'd want to avoid us more than anything."
He explained that the handful of spiders capable of biting humans typically only do so when they feel under threat. Professor Logan recounted his own experience of being bitten after accidentally trapping a spider between his gardening glove and his hand. He said: "It did hurt. Compared to maybe a bee sting - something like that. It's not too bad."
So there you have it – spiders definitely aren't as scary as their reputation suggests! So there's no need to be afraid of them.
