These days, it's lunch for the residents of what's called the Spider Pavilion.

Although more subdued than the fanciful butterflies, especially during the daytime, the multiple species of spiders tucked away in the bushes or hanging overhead in this interactive museum exhibit still elicit the occasional gasps of apprehension and excitement. 

 "Anything creepy and we're here," said Carmen Zenteno, who was checking out the exhibit with her daughter Alexis, 14, and son Ryan, 10.

Fear certainly wasn't a factor for 3-year-old Annabelle Larson, who nearly grabbed a golden silk spider right out of the hand of the museum's Robert Spellman, who was showing off the spindly spider's gentle nature.

But there are those who prefer the butterflies, like Paul Csengeri, who was there to satisfy his 7-year-old daughter Jaden's interest in science.

As for Jaden: "I like both equally," she said matter-of-factly.

The people who visit the Spider Pavilion -- upwards of 20,000 during the six weeks it's open -- generally fall into three categories, said Brent "the Bug Guy" Karner, manager of invertebrate living collections at the museum and curator of this creepy-crawly display: Those who love spiders in a kitschy sort of way, those who are simply interested in how a walk-through exhibit populated by hundreds of free-range spiders can work and those thrill-seekers who like to live on the edge.

"We understand it is playing a bit on their fears," said Karner. "But we also want people to realize that these spiders aren't going to eat them alive."

The exhibit is open daily through Nov. 8. By then, many of the spiders on display -- from the golden silk spider (the largest species of orb weaving spider in the U.S.), to the giant wood spider (the largest species of orb weaving spider in the world) -- will be in the last days of their life cycle, which lasts less than a year.

While none of the spiders have managed to scrawl "Salutations" in their webs so far, these orb weavers -- named for their impressive wheel-shaped webs -- lead a similar life as the friendly spider in "Charlotte's Web." They were born in the spring, grew exponentially over the summer and the females are now laying egg sacks before dying.

"It seems sad, in sort of the same way 'Charlotte's Web' seems sad," said Karner, who'll collect as many egg sacks as he can and hopefully preserve some to hatch in the spring. 

Occasionally, though, he misses one and the spiderlings hatch during the Pavilion of Wings  -- but that's the natural order of things.

Visitors to the pavilion are welcome to get up-close-and-personal with, but not touch, the spiders.  They can take plenty of pictures, ask questions of the museum docents and maybe even conquer a phobia or two.

The seasonal exhibit, the first of its kind, is in its fifth year at the museum. The idea came to Karner around 1993 after a spider had gotten into the Pavilion of Wings and was "ravaging a butterfly," Karner recalled with a smile. 

"People were cheering the spider on," said Karner.

Most of the spiders in the exhibit are native to North America and yes, they are venomous. All spiders are. But of the more than 40,000 species of spiders in the world, only about 27 are potentially dangerous, said Karner. None of those are in the walk-through exhibit.

"We wouldn't be doing this if these things could kill our guests," he noted.

However, also on display -- safely kept in glass cases -- are a couple different tarantulas, a hard-to-spot brown recluse and a dark fishing spider

Of course, education is at the heart of the exhibit. Karner is eager to show that spiders aren't waiting around to sink their fangs into something that's big enough to squash them without trying. 

Still, you can't help but brush yourself off after leaving the pavilion -- you know, just in case.

Where: South Lawn of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd.

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

How Much: Tickets cost $3 for adults, $2 for students and seniors and $1 for kids. This is not included in the museum admission. Museum members are free.

Info: Natural History Museum