When you first hear the phrase how many spiders do you eat a year , it’s hard not to shiver. Stories abound that, while you sleep, spiders crawl into your mouth and become an involuntary midnight snack. But how much of this is grounded in fact? In this post, we explore the origins of the spider myth , examine human and arachnid behaviors, and reveal why the number of spiders you’re actually consuming is likely zero . Let’s dive in. 🌙 Reality vs. Myth : Spiders in Your Sleep For decades, the idea that you swallow eight spiders a year while you slumber has circulated as common “knowledge.” Yet, entomologists and sleep researchers agree this claim is more legend than truth. Spiders are typically skittish, preferring to avoid large, vibrating creatures—namely, humans. As you breathe and move, the air currents and physical presence of your body make a human mouth an unappealing destination for an arachnid. Without coordinated motionlessness on your part and a spider’s bold intent to appr...