Spiders seem to occupy a top spot in emotional fear reactions from people as being the epitome of menacing insect-type threats. What is the origin of this almost universal phobia?

This is a similar scourge to the cockroach in being present in so many parts of the world, almost omnipresent with adaptations to so many varied environments. Its lifestyle as a predator and its physical appearance as being something that is ugly and truly designed for killing is able to deeply trigger inner fear of predators of all kinds and there is an inner awareness as well that these species are unnatural and represent attack from other kinds of creatures as a theme. Humans have a deep inner knowing there are other scourges of greater potential for harm that are unseen and this comes out in many types of folklore, and there is an intuitive awareness that such creatures as the spiders are not placed by divine hands into your world but are of an evil origin, and this, in fact, is the case being from extraterrestrial worlds to begin with.