All About Spiders

Written by: Anna Pafenberg

Thousands of people all over the world have come in close contact with spiders. Whether it be the harmless daddy long leg or a large and hairy tarantula, spiders and humans have interacted for a long time. Spiders are one of the most common irrational fears or phobias. The majority of people say that they are afraid. Spiders are actually one of the most interesting types of animals, they aren’t just the traditional arachnids that most think about. While the fear of spiders may have come from a prehistoric nature where ancient people got bit by spiders more often, most spiders are not very dangerous. 3,500 types of spiders in the United States don’t have the ability to bite humans through our skin, even the ones that can mostly do not cause harm. Most of the time their bites are similar to that of a mosquito. 

Some species of spiders like to weave a traditional web to trap their prey in. Spider silk is five times stronger than steel! Yet the silk is so thin that it lures unsuspecting prey without them seeing it. A spider’s silk is not just used for prey though, they also use it to make egg sacs that their young will stay in until they hatch. This offers a safe space for young spiders. They also use this in their nests to keep their young safe even after they hatch. Spiders, especially young ones, can use the silk in something called ‘ballooning’. These juvenile spiders drop their silk down and then let the wind carry them to new destinations. Spiders who do not have webs tend to live in rocks and vegetation and wait for prey to come to them.

It can sometimes be hard to define what a spider is. Most people say that they have eight legs and weave webs. While this can be true, a spider is a part of the arthropod family like all insects and are related to crab and lobster. Spiders are more specifically arachnids. These include scorpions and ticks. Spiders are not necessarily insects because they have a body made of two parts. 

Overall, spiders are misunderstood creatures. Even though they are highly feared, they are not as dangerous as most people think. Next time you see a spider, try to remember that it is probably not harmful and is just as loveable as a butterfly or ladybug!