about spider

What are 10 good things about spiders?

Famous Literary Spiders

• Spiderman - a comic book superhero whose alter ego is the newspaper reporter, Peter Parker. Of course, he has later become the subject of box office busting movies, too!
• Charlotte - the smart spider from Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. ...
• Shelob - a gigantic spider from J. R. R. ...
• Aragog - a fictional, flesh-eating spider owned by the character Hagrid in J. K. ...

What are 5 facts about spiders?

Top 5 facts about Australia

1. The golden beaches. If you are a beach lover and want to visit a new one each day, Australia is the place to go for you.
2. A Country full of sheep! There are three times more sheep in Australia than the number of people. ...
3. World Cockroach Championship. ...
4. A country for wine lovers. ...
5. Spider season could cover the country. ...

What are some good things about spiders?

Spiders are an important source of food in many human cultures, and are seen as good luck charms or totems in others; the creatures that spin life and all creation into being. Most importantly, spiders play a fundamental role in natural ecosystems – the enormous bulk of spiders support a large proportion of 'insectivorous' animals, and quite ...

What are bad things about spiders?

Important spider facts

• It has been recorded that there are over 27,000 species of spiders in the world. ...
• In the Dark Ages, spiders were considered a source of contamination. ...
• The most deadly spiders are black widows, funnel web and brown recluse spiders. ...
• Spider bites affect everyone differently. ...
• A female spider can lay up to 3,000 eggs.

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What are 10 facts about spiders?

10 interesting facts about spiders you need to knowSpiders are everywhere! ... There are a lot of spiders. ... Not all spider bites are deadly. ... 4. Female spiders have a large appetite. ... Spiders love to do the YMCA! ... Spider silk is strong. ... Spiders have blue blood. ... Spider silk is liquid.More items...

What is special about spider?

Something common to all 40,000 species of spiders is that they all spin silk. And as spiders have evolved, so has their ability to work with silk. One spider can produce up to seven different types, each used for a different purpose such as spinning webs or capturing prey.

What are 5 interesting facts in spider?

Eight strange but true spider factsSome male spiders just want to be eaten. ... Spiders can see what we cannot. ... Some tarantulas fling hair at predators. ... Spiders can work together. ... Spiders can go fishing. ... Spiders are the real superheroes. ... Ants can be spiders in disguise. ... Spiders have inspired their own dance.

Where do spiders live?

Anywhere can be home: Spider habitats range from deserts to rainforests to backyards and everything in between. There are spiders that float ON the water, such as fishing spiders, those that live UNDER the water, such as diving bell spiders, and even spiders that live as parasites on the webs of other spiders.

Why do spiders have 8 eyes?

Spider eyes for spider lives They usually have eight eyes: two very large front eyes to get a clear, colour image and judge distance, and extra side eyes to detect when something is moving.

How does a spider eat?

Spiders don't have teeth, so they have to liquefy their targets first before they consume them. They use enzymes to break down a prey's body into a chitinous soup, which is then sucked through the spider's straw-like mouth into its stomach.

Do all spiders have 8 eyes?

Spiders usually have eight eyes but few have good eyesight. Spiders usually have eight eyes (some have six or fewer), but few have good eyesight. They rely instead on touch, vibration and taste stimuli to navigate and find their prey.

Do spiders sleep?

In general, many spiders, such as house spiders, will sleep during the day and hunt at night. They follow daily cycles of rest and activity, known as the circadian rhythm. This is what drives them to be awake at night and restful during the day.

Do spiders have teeth?

In its most common use, spiders bite their prey and inject venom, which immobilizes the prey and starts the process of digestion. Spiders have no teeth and rely on the venom to liquefy their prey in order that their stomachs, known as sucking stomachs, can draw in the meal.

How long does a spider live?

The life spans of spiders vary considerably from species to species. While many common house spiders live a few years some can survive up to seven years. Tarantulas, on the other hand, can live into their 20s. The arachnid with the longest known lifespan prior to Number 16 was a 28-year-old tarantula found in Mexico.

How many eyes do a spider have?

eight eyesMost spiders have eight eyes. Most can detect only between light and dark, while others have well-developed vision.

What is a spider's home called?

The abandoned web that is left behind is what you may call a cobweb. A house spider will stealthily crawl to another area, perhaps near a door or window, and spin another web in hopes of catching more prey.

How long do spiders live?

Although most spiders live for at most two years, tarantulas and other mygalomorph spiders can live up to 25 years in captivity. While the venom of a few species is dangerous to humans, scientists are now researching the use of spider venom in medicine and as non-polluting pesticides.

What do spiders eat?

In captivity, several spider species are also known to feed on bananas, marmalade, milk, egg yolk and sausages. Crab spider with prey.

What kind of sheets do linyphiidae make?

The Linyphiidae generally make horizontal but uneven sheets, with tangles of stopping threads above. Insects that hit the stopping threads fall onto the sheet or are shaken onto it by the spider, and are held by sticky threads on the sheet until the spider can attack from below.

How do spiders reproduce?

Female spiders' reproductive tracts are arranged in one of two ways. The ancestral arrangement ("haplogyne" or "non-entelegyne") consists of a single genital opening, leading to two seminal receptacles (spermathecae) in which females store sperm. In the more advanced arrangement ("entelegyne" ), there are two further openings leading directly to the spermathecae, creating a "flow through" system rather than a "first-in first-out" one. Eggs are as a general rule only fertilized during oviposition when the stored sperm is released from its chamber, rather than in the ovarian cavity. A few exceptions exist, such as Parasteatoda tepidariorum. In these species the female appears to be able to activate the dormant sperm before oviposition, allowing them to migrate to the ovarian cavity where fertilization occurs. The only known example of direct fertilization between male and female is an Israeli spider, Harpactea sadistica, which has evolved traumatic insemination. In this species the male will penetrate its pedipalps through the female's body wall and inject his sperm directly into her ovaries, where the embryos inside the fertilized eggs will start to develop before being laid.

How many spider species are there in 2021?

As of May 2021. [update] , at least 49,800 spider species in 129 families have been recorded by taxonomists. However, there has been dissension within the scientific community as to how all these families should be classified, as evidenced by the over 20 different classifications that have been proposed since 1900.

What are the pigments in spiders?

Only three classes of pigment ( ommochromes, bilins and guanine) have been identified in spiders, although other pigments have been detected but not yet characterized. Melanins, carotenoids and pterins, very common in other animals, are apparently absent. In some species, the exocuticle of the legs and prosoma is modified by a tanning process, resulting in a brown coloration. Bilins are found, for example, in Micrommata virescens, resulting in its green color. Guanine is responsible for the white markings of the European garden spider Araneus diadematus. It is in many species accumulated in specialized cells called guanocytes. In genera such as Tetragnatha, Leucauge, Argyrodes or Theridiosoma, guanine creates their silvery appearance. While guanine is originally an end-product of protein metabolism, its excretion can be blocked in spiders, leading to an increase in its storage. Structural colors occur in some species, which are the result of the diffraction, scattering or interference of light, for example by modified setae or scales. The white prosoma of Argiope results from bristles reflecting the light, Lycosa and Josa both have areas of modified cuticle that act as light reflectors.

How many legs does a spider have?

Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all orders of organisms. Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except for Antarctica, ...

Where are spiders found?

All spiders, from tarantulas to jumping spiders, share this common trait. The simple eyes, fangs, palps, and legs are all found on the anterior body region, called the cephalothorax. The spinnerets reside on the posterior region, called the abdomen. The unsegmented abdomen attaches to the cephalothorax by means of a narrow pedicel, giving the spider the appearance of having a waist.

What do spiders eat?

Spiders hunt and capture prey. The majority feed on insects and other invertebrates, but some of the largest spiders may prey on vertebrates such as birds. The true spiders of the order Araneae comprise the largest group of carnivorous animals on Earth.

What happens when a spider bites its prey?

When a spider bites its prey, muscles around the venom glands contract, pushing venom through the fangs and into the animal. Most spider venom paralyzes the prey. The spider family Uloboridae is the only known exception to this rule. Its members do not possess venom glands.

How do spiders move their legs?

Spiders rely on a combination of muscle and hemolymph (blood) pressure to move their legs. Some joints in spider legs lack extensor muscles entirely. By contracting muscles in the cephalothorax, a spider can increase the hemolymph pressure in the legs, and effectively extend their legs at these joints.

How do spiders absorb food?

The spider exudes digestive enzymes from its sucking stomach onto the victim's body. Once the enzymes break down the tissues of the prey, the spider sucks up the liquefied remains, along with digestive enzymes. The meal then passes to the spider's midgut, where nutrient absorption occurs.

How does a spider get sperm?

He then draws the sperm into his pedipalps, a pair of appendages near his mouth, and stores the semen in a sperm duct. Once he finds a mate, he inserts his pedipalp into the female spider's genital opening and releases his sperm.

Why do spiders use courtship?

Male spiders sometimes use courtship rituals to identify themselves as mates and not meals. Jumping spiders, for example, perform elaborate dances from a safe distance and wait for the female's approval before approaching.

What are some interesting facts about spiders?

Facts About Spiders. The spider may not be your favorite creature to look at, but you have to admit they are fascinating. There is no shortage of wonderful facts about them that get them noticed either. All spiders have 8 legs. They arthropods. Spiders spin webs that they use to catch food in. They have glands that make silk.

What is the fear of spiders?

Arachnophobia is the fear of Spiders. It is one of the most common fears in the world. It affects approximately 10% of men and 50% of women. The severity of the fear can vary. The largest spider is the Giant Bird Eating Spider and the Huntsman spider is the world’s largest spider by leg-span.

Why are spider webs so hard to see?

The stickiness of a Spider web makes it hard to keep dust and particles out. This is why they are continually being rebuilt. Spider’s molt which is the process of shedding skin and growing new in its place. Spiders are nearsighted so they aren’t able to see items that are far away from them.

How many species of spiders are there in the world?

There are believed to be at least 40,000 species of Spiders in the world. Spiders help the environment by eliminating volumes of insects that would otherwise be around in your garden and other locations. When a Spider is going to make a new web, they roll the old one up first into a ball. Many species will eat it.

How much can a spider jump?

The venom allows them to change their prey into a liquid substance. Jumping Spiders are able to jump up to 50 times their own length .

How many legs does a spider have?

All spiders have 8 legs. They arthropods. Spiders spin webs that they use to catch food in. They have glands that make silk. They are the largest order of Arachnids. They are 7th in the world when it comes to diversity among their populations. Antarctica is the only continent in the world where you can’t find spiders.

Is a spider vegetarian?

There has only been one species identified as vegetarian the rest are all predators: Bagheera kiplingi. Most spiders feature 4 sets of eyes. The pattern of how they are arranged though will depend on the species. In some species, males are often much smaller than the females in size.

What do spiders do?

Some spiders are active hunters that chase and overpower their prey. These typically have a well-developed sense of touch or sight. Other spiders instead weave silk snares, or webs, to capture prey. Webs are instinctively constructed and effectively trap flying insects.

How many legs does a spider have?

Spider, (order Araneida or Araneae), any of more than 46,700 species of arachnids that differ from insects in having eight legs rather than six and in having the body divided into two parts rather than three.

What is the name of the spider that catches grasshoppers?

A black-and-yellow argiope ( Argiope aurantia) capturing a grasshopper in its orb web. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. See all videos for this article. All spiders are predators, feeding almost entirely on other arthropods, especially insects. Some spiders are active hunters that chase and overpower their prey.

What is the largest spider in the world?

The largest spider in the world is a species of tarantula found in South America where one specimen had a leg span of over 11 inches. Spiders don't get caught in their own webs because they have self-oiling legs.

How many species of spiders are there in the US?

In fact, several species of spiders use different strategies for obtaining food. There are about 3,000 species of spiders roaming around North America, but only two in the southern and western United States can cause serious harm when accidentally disturbed — the black widow and brown recluse.

What does it mean when a brown recluse bites you?

The brown recluse spider only bites to protect itself. Its bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore. The center of their bite becomes a blister surrounded by an angry-looking red ring, which is then surrounded by a white ring. A red, itchy rash usually appears in the first 24-48 hours of being bitten. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.

How long do black widow spiders live?

Males have white spots on their sides. Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female black widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn’t always the case.

Why are brown recluse spiders called brown recluse spiders?

Brown recluse spiders get their name because of their tendency to hide in corners. They are identified by the dark brown violin shaped markings on their back. Native to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, they are nocturnal pests. Keep reading to find more kid-friendly facts on these fascinating arachnids.

Can a black widow spider bite a human?

The bite of a female black widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male black widow spider does not bite. A black widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.

What is the name of the spider that spins the web?

Also called golden silk orb-weavers, these arachnids from the subfamily Nephilinae spin some of the most beautiful webs. Other names for this fascinating spider include ‘banana spider’ and ‘giant wood spider.’

Why are spiders called arachnids?

All spider species are called arachnids because they belong to the class of animals called Arachnida. This large group of leggy animals also includes mites, ticks, and scorpions.

Why are orb spiders so hard to identify?

Because all spiders that spin orb (circular) shaped webs are classed as orb-weavers, orb spiders are difficult to categorize as they include many species. Some are oval-shaped with a black and white body and dark red spike-like shapes. Other species can have black bodies with yellow and white markings.

What is the name of the black widow spider?

Picture of a female black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans) with red patches on the lower abdomen. Black widow spider is the common name for spiders in the Latrodectus genus belonging to the family Theridiidae. These black spiders with red dots are some of the most venomous house spiders in North America.

What is the most dangerous spider?

Some of the most frightening spiders are tarantulas in the Theraphosidae family. Many species of venomous spiders are black and red spiders. The most famous is the black widow spider that can cause a non-fatal nasty bite. However, poisonous spiders can also be brown, black with white spots, or black with a red body.

How big do wolf spiders get?

There are thousands of spider species that are classed as ‘wolf spiders.’. The bodies of these hairy 8-legged creatures grow up to 1.38” (35 mm).

What is a flower crab spider?

The ‘flower crab spider’ ( Misumena vatia) is a white species of spider in the family Thomisidae. These are an unusual small type of white spider that can change its color. These garden spiders get their common name from the crab-like way they hold their legs.

How long has the spider been around?

There are fossil remains to show that the Spider has been around for more than 400 million years. Yet we still lack sufficient evidence to be able to tell what occurred over time for them. There are quite a few speculations about the types of evolution that have occurred for them over time.

Where do spiders live?

In fact, they rank 7th in the world. The only place in the world where they don’t live in on Antarctica. They are found in all forms of habitats and that includes around humans. Spiders can range in size from extremely small to very large.

Why are humans afraid of spiders?

As a result many humans are afraid of Spiders. They tend to do all they can to get them out of their homes and habitats. With humans continually invading the territory of the Spider they are having a hard time finding places where they won’t run into humans.

Why do spiders have four eyes?

They also have four sets of eyes that they use to help them because they don’t have a good sense of balance. Spiders generally move very slowly but they don’t have to worry too much about various predators. Most of them have a very powerful venom that they deliver and will paralyze predators.

How many legs does a spider have?

Spiders can range in size from extremely small to very large. Some of them blend in so well with their surroundings that you won’t even know they are around. They all have four sets of legs so eight in all. They also have four sets of eyes that they use to help them because they don’t have a good sense of balance.

Where do spiders make their webs?

The abdominal area of a Spider is where the silk to create the webs is made. It is amazing to watch them work so diligently to create their elaborate webs. The mating process for males and females is also interesting. The females are much larger than the males.

Why are spiders so hard to identify?

With many of the species they are a huge mystery. Their numbers can be hard to identify too due to the fact that they have such a diversified habitat. Still, researchers continue to look for answers. Part of that research is also to find treatments that work well when someone has been bitten by a poisonous Spider.

Overview

Etymology

• Most species are carnivorous, either trapping flies and other insects in their webs, or hunting them down. They can’t swallow their food as is, though—spiders inject their prey with digestive fluids, then suck out the liquefied remains. Though not all spiders build webs, every species produces silk. They use the strong, flexible protein fiber for m...

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Description

Ecology and behavior

Web types

Evolution

Taxonomy

Human interaction