Spider lovers from across the world are meeting in Mitchell this weekend for the 39th annual convention of the American Arachnological Society. Scientists will explore the South Dakota ecosystem and share research.
The spider enthusiasts are meeting at Dakota Wesleyan University. Dr. Brian Patrick is an assistant professor of biology. He says he offered to host the conference in Mitchell as the surrounding prairie offers intriguing possibilities for research.
“Whenever we’re looking up information about spiders they put these little dots on a map about where they’ve been collected, and by the time you get to northern Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and up into Canada, there’s this blank spot because nobody really collects here. They think it’s all just prairie and there’s nothing there,” Patrick says.
Patrick says there are an estimated 1,000 species of spiders in the state, but only 400 have been identified. The scientists will visit prairie and wetlands to collect species of their own, but new species could also be found.
Patrick says 32 speakers will present new research, giving scientists the chance to see what other researchers are discovering.
“The only thing that ties us all together is that we happen to use these organisms for our research. Some people use different types of spiders to study the evolution of the brain and eyesight and others use it to model behavior and why we act the way we do when we try to find a date, and others will use it just let me, I use it more for biodiversity” Patrick says. “I’m curious who lives there and why do they live there.”
Patrick is the only arachnologist in South Dakota. He says people often approach him with their fears of these eight legged creatures. But Patrick likes to highlight the benefit of spiders, including for mosquito control.
“If anyone can get just a little more awareness of that and think “you know, rather than squish them, maybe I should just throw them outside and let them do their job,” then I think that’s a good thing,” Patrick says.
The conference runs through the weekend.