Spiders live almost everywhere on land, from deserts to backyards. Here are a few basics to get you started.
- Spiders are arachnids, not insects. They have eight legs and two main body parts: the cephalothorax and the abdomen.
- All spiders make silk, but not all build webs. Wolf spiders and jumping spiders, for example, hunt without webs.
- Most spiders have venom, but few are dangerous to people. In the United States, widow and recluse spiders are the main species of medical concern.
- Eye counts vary. Many spiders have eight eyes, but the number and arrangement differ between families.
- Spiders are helpful predators. They eat large numbers of insects in homes, gardens, and farm fields.
More spider facts coming soon