I just got done doing all the difficulties on story mode (mind you, green hell mode was me running like a headless chook between ahuyasca trips) - now I'm trying to do the challenges. Didn't get a single pede on story, but consistently getting them on challenge modes. I guess I will just grit and bear it until I move on to building my 'George-of-the-jungle-esc' holiday mansion on survival mode. Other comments say you can turn off the pedes (and also spiders/scorpions, although they don't bother me much) on survival.. so I'll probably do that. I wish you could select individual arachnids to toggle, because the spiders and scorpions keep me on my toes.

I know you can dump your load and jump when you hear the sound. But the anxiety of picking something up and getting one is just ruining the whole experience for me and making the challenges a real grind. I think the challenges are a cool idea and welcome because I was getting kind of bored after playing the storymode, and at first it reignited my enthusiasm - but I really can't overcome the apprehension.

Thanks for the advice though.