A New Look At Spiders

R.YNFANTE CLUSTER B 205
THE RICE SCHOOL/LA ESCUELA RICE
P.WINKLER
HIGH SCHOOL FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS

FYI

Spiders are archnids which comes from the Latin word achracne which means spider. Spiders parts include,8 legs, cephalothorax, abdomen,spinnerets,pedipalps, jaws, and fangs. Spiders get oxygen in their systems through a small slit in their abdomen.

Most spiders live less that one year, but, TARANTULAS, become mature adults at 10 or11 years of age. The females live 10 years after that. They can live up to 25 years.

Spiders mold about 12 times in their lifetime. They shed or molt all of their exoskeleton and grow a new one. Spiders build webs which are sticky so that their prey will become stuck and they can eat it. Spiders also have a special oil all over their bodies so that they don't get stuck in their own webs.

WANDERING SPIDERS VS. WEB BUILDERS
WHO ARE THESE SPIDERS CALLED WANDERING SPIDERS?

Wandering spiders have 2 claws on each foot between their claw is a pad of hair to give them a firm grip for walking on slippery surfaces. These spiders need very good eyesight so that they can find their food and be safe from predators.

What are Web Builders?

The Web builders have tiny eyes, poor eyesight, and rely very much on their sense of touch. These spiders can locate their prey by vibrations on the web that they build. The web builders have 3 claws on each foot. The middle claw is used to hook over the silk threads of their webs.

Different Types of Webs

1. Triangle--This type of web is built like a triangle. The spider holds the line when an insect lands on the web and the spider shakes the line, and tangles it so it can't get away.

1. 2. Orb---The spider builds this web by building a frame for its web with spokes going out from the center like the spokes on a bicycle wheel.

Net Thrower--- This special type of cobweb weaver's real name is Ogre-Faced Spider. It spins a small rectangular net and waits hanging upside down when insects or ants go by, it drops the net over them. These spiders have special teeth on back legs to comb their silk and it looks soft and fluffy. They make tiny loops in silk to trip insects and tangle them.

• Black Widow---This spider is a cobweb weaver and produces the strongest silk in the world. It looks like a tangled mess. The widow has a red hourglass underneath it and is found throughout the US and Canada.
  
• Water Spider---This spider makes its home under water and it looks like a dome. The domes are attached to plants. The spider fills the dome up with air and they can raise young, feed, and live underwater.
  
• Jumping Spiders---The Jumping Spiders leap more than 50 times their body length. That is one length of a football field to another in one bound.
  
• Funnel Weaver---This spider builds its nest in grass shaped like a funnel. The spider hides in the far end of the funnel until the prey walks to the entrance and then jumps out at it.
  
• Birdeating Spider---These spiders live in South America. Some drag birds from their nest.
  
• Trapdoor Spider---This spider lines its burrow with silk and covers it with a trapdoor. It is not a wandering spider. This spider feels vibration of insects passing by, then, it pops out and captures it.
  
• Spitting Spider---This spider traps insects by spitting on them with spit from its fangs like glue, and insects can't run away because they are stuck.
  
• Brown Recluse---This spider is found in Southern and western US. It is brown, has 6 eyes, and has a violin mark on its back.
  Wolf Spider---The wolf spider has two huge eyes to attack prey and strong jaws to hold its prey. It has no web to aid it.