araneophobia

To exasperation caused by this impotence in the past, we may ascribe at least some portion of man’s susceptibility to araneophobia in the present; but it is probably due, in the main, to the spider’s unprepossessing features, and to his possession of venomous fangs.

1929, J. C. Squire, editor, The London Mercury, volume XX, page 330

On the other hand, the subcategories pertinent to arachnid-produced phobias would only rarely lead to a definitive diagnosis of arachnophobia or the more specific scorpiophobia, araneophobia, or acarophobia.[…]This term, arachnophobia (fear of arachnids), has been used so often in connection with the disease condition of the Middle Ages known as “tarantism” that it has become synonymous with araneophobia (or araneidophobia). In technical reports, arachnophobia should only be used when there is assurance that the phobia is limited to all arachnids[…]. As with scorpions, these large-bodied arachnids [spiders] are spectacles of the media and currently exaggerated both as aesthetic trouble-free pets (“talk shows”) and as the central attraction in horror films. The wide distribution and overlap of habitat with animals must produce an acceleration of the number of cases of araneophobia.

1984, Herman Beerman, William B. Nutting, “Arachnid-Related Phobias: Symbiophobia, Preventions, and Treatments”, in William B. Nutting, editor, Mammalian Diseases and Arachnids, volumes II, “Medico-Veterinary, Laboratory, and Wildlife Diseases, and Control”, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, →ISBN, pages 106–107

Since most arthropods are usually harmless or beneficial to mankind, it may at first be hard to understand why araneophobia, the irrational fear of spiders, is so common.

1987 January, Lloyd E. King, “Spider Bites”, in Archives of Dermatology, volume 123, page 41, column 1

Spiders have been given a “bad rap” by a sensation-seeking press that plays on one of humanity’s most common phobias, araneophobia (the irrational fear of spiders).

1987 October, E.W.T. Turgeon, “Insects and Spiders: Infestations and Bites”, in Canadian Family Physician, volume 33, page 2369, column 2

Bites by spiders, otherwise known as arachnidism, seem to hold a particular terror for humans. There is significant fear of these organisms (araneophobia), and yet few actually cause disease.

1996, Mervyn L. Elgart, “Insect Bites and Stings”, in Kenneth A. Arndt, Philip E. LeBoit, June K. Robinson, Bruce U. Wintroub, editors, Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery: An Integrated Program in Dermatology, volume 1, Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Company, →ISBN, section “Arachnid Bites”, subsection “Definition”, page 811, column 1