To better control and repel spiders around our homes it is helpful to understand some basic details about them. Spiders are very complex creatures with thousands of different species, so this article will just skim the surface of the vast sea of spider information.
Overview
Spiders are part of the arachnid animal class. They have eight legs, eight eyes, and all have fangs that can inject venom. They are found all throughout the world, the exception is Antarctica. They are specially adapted to live in almost any habitat, this includes in the forest, homes, desert, water, and much more. There are over 40,000 species of spiders known in the world. Each species of spider is unique. There are various colors that spiders come in, some of these include brown, black, red, yellow, and greens. Spiders are beneficial to ecosystems because they control insect populations, and are an integral part of the food web.
Webs
One of the things that make spiders unique is that they can spin silk. Inside a spider’s abdomen there are silk glands which spin silk out of spinnerets. Different species produce different webs. There are thousands of various, intricate designs. There are two classifications for spiders: web spinning and hunting spiders. Obviously, the web spinning spiders are the ones that make the complex webs. Hunting spiders can also produce silk, but they rely on them less for catching prey. Usually they will use their silk for tethering or for creating ground webs. They are much more efficient at catching prey without their webs.
What They Eat
Most spiders will prey on insects and other spiders. They actually do a great job at insect pest control. Although, there are some specialized hunting spiders that will go after small lizards, birds, and even fish. Web spinning spiders rely on their sticky webs to tangle and ensnare their prey. Hunting spiders usually rely on their agility and venomous bite to paralyze their victims. Both types of spiders have methods that are extremely effective at capturing their meals.
Venom
Many spiders will bite when threatened, and they are all venomous. However, most spiders do not have venom that is potent enough to cause much harm to humans. Others have small mouths can cannot deliver a bite. The spider bite’s venom is used to paralyze smaller insects so the spider can feed on them without struggle. This is why the venom is not usually toxic enough to do any serious damage to humans, it is adapted for small insects. There are a few spiders that are exceptions though, and you should be cautious of them. The most notorious in North America is the black widow.
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