Creepy creatures more than spooky symbols

By Beth Leermakers

Ever wonder why bats and spiders dominate Halloween décor? Beyond their eerie looks, these creatures have deep ties to the holiday’s spooky roots. Keep reading to learn why they’re Halloween icons — and discover some fascinating facts that might just earn them your respect (if not your affection).

Bats. Bats have been a symbol of Halloween since the holiday’s ancient origins. On October 31, the Celts — who lived in Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France 2000 years ago — celebrated Samhain, when the ghosts of the dead supposedly returned to earth. The Celts believed that, in addition to damaging crops and causing trouble, these otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to predict the future. 

During Samhain, the Druids lit huge bonfires to ward off evil spirits. Wearing costumes (usually of animal heads and skins), the Celts gathered around the bonfires and tried to tell each other’s fortunes. These massive light sources attracted swarms of insects, which in turn attracted hunting bats. The bats that swooped near the fire to snatch insects before flying away were believed to be spirits of the dead, frightened off only by their gods’ divine fire. 

Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel “Dracula” — about a blood sucking vampire that shapeshifted into a bat — solidified the connection between bats and Halloween. The existence of real vampire bats that drink the blood of vertebrate animals reinforced the belief that bats were demonic or fearsome. 

What’s the truth about vampire bats? They are the only mammals that feed exclusively on blood. Only three bat species are vampire bats, and they live only in Latin America. Vampire bats very rarely bite humans to feed on their blood. Instead, the blood-thirsty bats feed primarily on livestock and, to a lesser degree, wild mammals and birds. The bats land on the ground near their victim, usually while the host is sleeping. Part of the vampire bat’s brain is specialized to detect the deep, regular breathing of sleeping animals. 

The bat uses its incisors to make a tiny incision in the animal’s skin. Sharp teeth and natural painkillers in the bat’s saliva prevent the host animal from knowing it’s been bitten. The bat doesn’t suck the blood. Instead, it laps it up with its specially designed tongue. Anticoagulants in the bat’s saliva prevent the host’s blood from clotting, allowing the bat to drink until it’s full (can take 20 minutes). If this sounds familiar, you may have read my article about mosquitoes — blood-drinking pests that also have anticoagulants in their saliva. Vampire bats need about two tablespoons of blood per day. Bottom line: bats don’t harm their animal hosts. 

Bats may look scary, but if they’re left alone, they pose little threat for people. Although they can carry disease, the probability of catching a disease from a bat is far less than the risk of being struck by lightning, according to the National Wildlife Foundation. Bats in the United States eat insects — up to 600 per hour — not blood, making them beneficial. By feasting on crop pests, these natural bug zappers reduce crop damage and farmers’ need for pesticides. 

Spiders. Long believed to have supernatural powers, spiders have fascinated — and frightened — people for centuries. In the Middle Ages, spiders were tied to witchcraft, believed to use magic to weave their intricate webs. According to folklore, witches used spiders as familiars to aid in spellcasting. Their Halloween connection may simply come from timing. Autumn is when orb weavers reach maturity and start spinning webs everywhere, indoors and out.

Superstitions add to the intrigue: if a spider falls into a candle’s flame, a witch is near. If you spot a spider on Halloween, a loved one’s spirit may be watching over you. So perhaps spiders aren’t so sinister after all. Only three species in the United States — the black widow, brown recluse and hobo — have venom that’s strong enough to harm people, and bites by these spiders are rare. Most spiders are beneficial predators that eat many insect pests that invade your garden.

Spider webs are certainly well-engineered, if not magical. Pound for pound, spider silk is stronger than steel and can shift from stretchy to rigid depending on the amount of force applied. Big black and orange garden spiders decorate their webs with UV-reflecting, non-sticky lines or spirals that camouflage the spiders, confuse predators and keep birds from flying into the web. Garden spiders tear their web apart every night, ball it up and eat it, re-using the protein and glue to build a new web the next day.  

As you enjoy spider and bat decorations this Halloween, remember — these fascinating creatures are more than spooky symbols. They remind us that nature’s mysteries are often the source of our favorite frights.

Happy Halloween! 

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