New research reveals arachnophobia or the irrational fear of spiders is apparently a product of human evolution.

Even during prehistoric times, spiders presented great danger to humans, especially during humans' critical stages of evolution where the fear became a hereditary part of human DNA.

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Early human ancestors in Africa that had the ability to track these creatures survived longer than their less aware counterparts.

Spiders that lived during prehistoric ages included species with vertebrate specific venom that populated Africa before hominoids began co-existing with them for more than 10 million years, according to Joshua New from Columbia University in New York.

New said humans were always exposed to unpredictable, high risks of encountering highly venomous spiders in their ancestral regions. A black widow spider bite during prehistoric times can leave a person incapacitated for days or weeks even if it's not fatal.

This new study showed modern people quickly identified a spider when it was shown along with other images. Out of the 252 participants in the study, most recognized the arachnids faster than any other images known to induce fear such as needles and other insects.

Other theories that could explain humans' irrational fear of spiders include the creatures' angular, hairy legs, its dark hairy coat and awkward, unpredictable movements that induce disgust and terror in humans, says psychology Professor Jon May from Plymouth University.

May adds that spiders possess all these creepy characteristics and since humans are more partial to brightly colored butterflies and ladybugs, spiders with their dark colors and long legs have strong, negative associations.

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