WEB OF INTRIGUE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S SPIDER PAVILION PUTS A POSITIVE SPIN ON ARACHNOPHOBIA.

Byline: Diana McKeon Charkalis Lifestyle Editor

It's not easy shedding a bad reputation, especially one that's been long perpetuated in nursery rhymes and movies starring Jeff Daniels.

But Brent Karner is out to change negative attitudes about eight-legged creatures, one spider at a time.

``I've always been interested in how some animals are loved by everyone and others are loathed just because we've been told to think of them a certain way,'' says Karner, an entomologist at L.A.'s Natural History Museum who prefers the title ``bug guy.''

``Spiders aren't monsters, and they won't come after you. In fact, you're more likely to harm them than they are to hurt you.''

To better illustrate this, the museum recently opened its outdoor spider pavilion for the second year in a row. It will be open through Nov. 5.

``Our aim with this exhibit is to help people get over their fear of spiders and to see them in a new light,'' Karner says. ``It's also a way to teach people about general ecology and plant and animal interaction.''

Spidey sense

The greenhouse structure covered in wire mesh is home to more than 300 free-roaming spiders. They spend their time spinning webs, catching insects and basically ignoring the humans who walk among them. Despite this, many onlookers do so with a clear look of apprehension. They may have read ``Charlotte's Web,'' but they're not completely convinced.

``We're both terrified,'' said Kelly Graham of Redondo Beach, nervously eyeing some tarantulas that are part of the exhibit, but housed just outside the pavilion. She kept her 5-year-old son, Jonah, by her side. ``I thought if he saw them like this, in this environment, it would be safer.''

Was it working?

``Kind of,'' she said. ``But they still give me the willies.''

Karner says that, of the 38,000 spider species, only 27 can be harmful to humans. Here in Southern California, that includes mainly black widows, reclusive creatures who prefer to be left alone.

Karner asserts that, although widely reported, there are no brown recluse spiders in this area.

To stock this exhibit, Karner relied on fellow entomologists. They sent him specimens from all over the country. ``I have many crazy friends who will run into a swamp for me and catch a spider,'' Karner admits, adding that he caught quite a few on his own, locally.

The showy stars of the pavilion exhibit this year include Golden Orb Spiders, procured from Louisiana. On a recent day, a striking example of the species spun a web with a sparkly golden sheen that immediately attracted attention and questions.

Museum Gallery interpreter Maddy DeNoon sprayed the web with a gentle stream of water to illuminate its intricate patterns. She said the most common questions she gets are: ``Will it bite me?'' and ``Is it poisonous? '' In both cases, the answer is no.

``It's what we don't know about them that makes us afraid,'' she says. ``You really have to make a spider mad to get it to bite you. They won't jump or fall on you. The more I learn about them, the more I realize they're really wonderful animals that aren't going to harm us.''

Change of attitude

Outside the exhibit, visitors are invited to write down their feelings about spiders both before and after experiencing the pavilion. The intent is to gauge the impact of an up-close and personal look. In one case, a visitor named Melanie described spiders as ``scary,'' ``creepy'' and ``venomous'' on the way in, and ``cool,'' ``fun'' and ``awesome'' on the way out.

Others, who were a bit more phobic, still made an effort to face their fears. Walking toward the exit with her three kids, ages 8, 10 and 12, Lisa Lang of Saugus said the visit changed everybody's attitude at least a little.

``They're scared of them, but also fascinated by them,'' she said. ``Coming here helps to appreciate them more.''

Diana McKeon Charkalis, [phone]

diana.charkalis(at)dailynew

SPIDER PAVILION

Where: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. Pavilion is located outside the south entrance.

When: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through Nov. 5. Tickets sold in half-hour time slots throughout the day.

Costs: $3 adults, $2 students and seniors, $1 children 5-12.

Information: [phone] or www.nhm.org.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) If arachnids creep you out, head over to the Natural History Museum to see the SPIDER-MAN

(2 -- color) Poisonous spiders, kept in aquariums, capture the attention of Jesse Woods, 7, center, his father, Cathal Woods, left, and Stella Mulroney at the Natural History Museum's Spider Pavilion. ``Our aim with this exhibit is to help people get over their fear of spiders and to see them in a new light,'' says entomologist Brent Karner, a Golden Orb spider crawling on his hand.

(3 -- 5 -- color) A Golden Orb spider clings to its web at the Natural History Museum's Spider Pavilion. A light spray of water makes the web's intricacy more easily visible. The pavilion will be open through Nov. 5.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer