All About Spiders!

What is a Spider?

• A spider is not an insect. Spiders are arachnids. Arachnids are a class of animals that have eight legs. Insects only have six legs.

• Spiders are also different from insects because they do not have antennae or wings.

Spider Bodies• Spiders have two main

body parts. The first part is called the cephalothorax. The second part is called the abdomen. Spiders also have spinnerets. Spiders use the spinnerets to spin silk for their webs.

Spider Skeletons• Your skeleton is on the inside of your body.

Not so with spiders. Spiders have an exoskeleton. That means that their skeleton is on the outside of their bodies.

Eyes & Fangs• Did you know that some

spiders can have up to eight eyes? Most spiders have eyes on the top of their heads.

• All spiders have fangs. Spiders will use their fangs to bite their prey. A spider will use its fangs to inject venom into its prey.

Watch out for Spider Bites!

• Some spider bites can be dangerous or even deadly to people. There are more than 100,000 different kinds of spiders that live in the United States. Only two kinds can be deadly to humans: the black widow and the brown recluse spiders.

Black Widow Spider

Where Do Spiders Live?

• Spiders can live indoors or outdoors. Spiders often live near sink drains or water sources. Spiders live all over the world in wet and dry climates, near trees, rivers, in houses and underground. Spiders are everywhere!

Spider Webs• Spiders spin webs to

trap their prey. Not all spiders spin webs. Some spiders dig traps for their prey, and still others go out and hunt for their food.

Spider Eggs• Female spiders lay eggs.

Spiders will wrap the eggs in a cocoon of silk. Baby spiders grow in the eggs. When the eggs hatch, the baby spiders will crawl away on their own. Baby spiders are called spider lings.

What do Spiders Eat?

• Spiders eat insects. A spider might eat flies, wasps, ants, grasshoppers or other bugs. Spiders will eat what they catch in their webs.

Here is a spider eating a wasp that got tangled in the spider’s web!

Spiders Can Be Helpful

• Spiders are helpful to us because they eat unwanted insects. Spiders can help farmers and gardeners keep unwanted pests off of their fruit and vegetables. Scientists are also studying ways that they can use spider venom to help people with certain medical conditions.

In Conclusion

• In conclusion, spiders are interesting little creatures. We do not need to be afraid of them, but enjoy can them at a distance!

Show What You Know

• How many legs to spiders have?• What do spiders eat?• Why do spiders spin webs?• Name one type of spider in the United States

that is deadly.• How do spiders help humans?• Where do spiders live?

Great Job!

The End• Created by Green Apple Lessons• Clip Art by MyCuteGraphics