Spiders are creatures of intrigue. And I accord this intrigue to my favorite superhero – Spider-Man. Now, there is much to know about spiders, and I’ll try to tell you as much as I can about these insects! Keep reading to learn over ten spider facts for kids!
What biological families do the spider species belong to?
Spiders belong to the arachnid biological family. This family also includes scorpions, mites, and ticks. The interesting bit is that there are more than 30,000 known species of spiders.
Scientists have found spider fossils dating back millions of years, even though that is not an easy find!
10+ spider facts for kids
In the following sections, I will lay out 10+ spider facts for kids!
What is the oldest fossilized spider ever to be found by scientists?
Scientists have found spider fossils in amber that date back to about 2 million years. The spiders in the past were quite small and fragile, making it difficult to find whole fossilized spiders.
Further, spider skeletons are quite small and fragile, making it difficult to study them in detail.
Where does the word ‘spider’ originate from?
The word spider is derived from the Latin word for web-spinning spider, Araneus diadematus. The word was first introduced into English in the early 1500s. It is thought to have come from the Old French espièrer, meaning “to spy.”
The word spider is also said to originate from the Old English word spīder, which means “a creeping animal.” The Latin word for spider is arachnus, which is derived from the Ancient Greek words arachnos, meaning “spider,” and kósmos, meaning “world.”
Spiders are invertebrate Arthropods.
Spiders are invertebrate creatures, which means they do not have a backbone. This makes them different from insects, which are also arthropods (meaning they have an exoskeleton and jointed appendages).
Most spiders have eight eyes. But, there are some species that only have four. Spiders are also very nearsighted and use their hair to sense their surroundings.
Spiders are important for the earth.
Spiders are a crucial part of our ecosystem. They help keep gardens free of pests, recycle dead animals and plants back into the earth, and provide food for many small mammals, birds, and fish. In fact, there are more than 40,000 different spider species in the world!
Spiders digest their food whole and outside their bodies.
Spiders actually need to digest their food outside of their bodies. This means that they inject venom into their prey to paralyze it before sucking out the liquefied contents. The prey often looks normal after being eaten due to the digestion process taking place inside them.
Spiders are predator insects.
Spiders are predatory animals that eat other insects, including other spiders. They have venom glands that they use to kill their prey. This venom can also be harmful to humans.
Spiders are venomous.
Spiders are venomous creatures, and their poison can be harmful to humans. However, most spider poisons are quite weak and will not cause any harm. There are a few spiders, however, whose poison is strong enough to cause pain or even some nerve damage in humans.
If a spider bite from one of these spiders is left untreated, death could be a possible result.
Tarantulas are not as dangerous as you might think.
While tarantulas may look dangerous, they are actually not poisonous enough to cause death. Their bite can be painful, but it isn’t any more dangerous than a bee sting. In fact, most tarantula bites occur when people try to handle them, so it is best to just leave them alone!
Spiders create and spin silk.
Spiders create silk for many different reasons. They use it to spin webs, trap prey, and build nests. Silk is a strong, elastic material that can be used in a variety of ways.
Spider silk is extremely strong, and spiders use them to fly.
Spider silk is an incredibly strong material, and spiders use it for a variety of purposes. Some spiders produce webs with very strong silk, while others use it to create draglines that they can use to parachute down from high places.
The act of using the silk web as a parachute is referred to as ballooning. Additionally, spider silk has been shown to be more elastic than rubber, meaning that it can stretch without breaking.
It is even stronger than steel when comparing weight for weight. Scientists believe that if spider web was gathered and weighed in the same way as steel, it would be much stronger than steel.
Spiders generally recycle their silk.
Spiders are fascinating creatures with many interesting characteristics. One of the most interesting is that they recycle their silk. This means that they reuse the silk that they produce for webs, cocoons, and other purposes.
Male spiders are smaller than female spiders.
Male spiders are typically smaller than female spiders. This is because the male spider’s role is to mate with the female and then die. Male spiders are also known to use vibrations to announce their presence to a potential mate.
Spiders are oviparous insects.
As oviparous animals, spiders make offspring by laying eggs. Depending on the species, female spiders typically lay between 2 and 1000 eggs.
Almost all female spiders cover their eggs with a silk “blanket” and “bed” to protect them from predators. She then creates the egg sac by wrapping them in additional silk.
She then hangs the sac in a secure location and watches over it until the eggs hatch. Babies frequently remain inside the sac to complete development after they hatch.
Some mothers remain in the sac until the spiderlings emerge. Before seeing their newborns, some will either depart or pass away.
Spiders use their webs and vibrations to catch prey.
Spiders use their webs to catch prey. Webs are designed to catch food as it flies through the air. This is why spiders often build their webs in open spaces where there is a lot of movement.
Interestingly, spiders use vibrations on their webs to catch prey. The webbing is coated with a sticky substance that traps the prey. Additionally, spiders sense the vibrations of the web strands to locate their prey, even in complete darkness.
Spider wasps are predators of spiders.
Spider wasps are wasps that specifically prey on spiders. They paralyze the spider with their venom and then lay an egg on its body so that the larva can eat it alive. In fact, the spider wasp is one of the spider’s worst enemies.
The largest spider in the world is 11 inches long.
The largest spider in the world is the Giant Bird-eating spider. It has a leg span of 11 inches (28 cm). This spider is found in the rainforest and can weigh up to 170 grams.
What is the world’s smallest spider?
The world’s smallest spider is the Patu digua or Brazilian wandering spider. This tiny arachnid measures in at just 0.125 of an inch long! In comparison, you could fit 10 of them at the end of a pencil.
Is the wolf spider as dangerous as the Australian redback spider?
No, the wolf spider is not as dangerous as the Australian redback spider. In fact, the only thing worrisome about the wolf spider is that they are large, and if they do punish you with a bite, it can be painful for you. But, these spiders don’t generally harm or attack humans.
On the other hand, Australian redback spiders are quite dangerous. Even though they are shy spiders, their bite is not something to look forward to. Not only can it make you severely sick, but unless you get the bite treated, you could die.
Is the jumping spider species poisonous?
Although jumping spiders have fangs and can sting, the venom is not harmful to humans. The jumping spider can bite. However, its bites are not harmful. They are not thought to be hazardous.
Conclusion
There’s always more to learn when it comes to spiders. These insects are fascinating. The fact that they can produce silk that is stronger than steel is something that future scientists might even use to create materials that are just as strong!