Browsing the webs

“SPIDERS are really gentle creatures,” says Brent Karner, resident “bug guy” at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. “But you have to see it for yourself.” In the newly opened Spider Pavilion, nearly 100 creatures spin, crawl and hang freely within a walk-in habitat on the museum’s south lawn. The lushly landscaped environment includes large, golden silk spiders that build webs up to 3 feet across, orb weavers (above, with Karner) and others showcased in a photo gallery at latimes.com/home. Arachnophobes can be assured that few spiders are venomous, and the more dangerous members of the exhibit are under glass in a separate interpretive area. The pavilion is open through Nov. 4 in Exposition Park. Related events include evening flashlight tours, a movie night and trick or treating. For a full list of activities, go to www.nhm.org/spiderpavilion.

-- Lisa Boone