For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, winter is time to bring out the big coats, scarves, gloves and hats. Although the colder months bring with it the snow, cozy nights in by the fire, and not forgetting Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is also something else that likes to dwell in our homes during this period… Spiders!
During the autumn months, male spiders leave their discrete nesting areas and explore our homes in search of a new girlfriend.
Even though this breed of arachnids can be stuff of nightmares for some, particularly those who suffer from arachnophobia, they are actually fascinating creatures. So without further adieu, here are 10 interesting facts about spiders you need to know!
Spiders belong to the class Arachnida, which also includes scorpions, ticks, and mites. Even though they may be the stuff of nightmares for some—and many spiders seek shelter in homes during the colder months—spiders are actually fascinating creatures full of fun facts.
This might freak you out, but research suggests that you are never more than 10 feet away from a spider. Don’t worry, though, most of the time, they are hiding away somewhere in some crevices minding their own business. These eight-legged creatures are masters of hiding, often tucked away in cracks, under furniture, or in garden plants.
So, while they might be close by, most spiders prefer to stay out of sight and avoid humans. In fact, they play an important role in controlling insect populations, helping to keep your home and garden free of pests.
Spiders come in all different shapes and sizes, each with their own unique look and characteristics, hunting style, and habitat preferences.
Some spiders are tiny, measuring less than a millimeter, while others, like the Goliath birdeater, can grow as large as a dinner plate with an impressive leg span of up to 12 inches. Their colors and patterns vary widely, helping them blend into their environments or warn predators to stay away. And some spiders, like wolf spiders, don’t build webs but actively hunt their prey.
There are approximately over 30,000 different species of spider currently known. However, some scientists believe that there are a lot more to be discovered.
There are a few spiders that cause some nasty bites, which due to their venom can cause some risky complications to your health. The majority of spiders will not bite humans and if they do, their venom isn’t strong enough to inflict any damage.
Unfortunately, and this pains me to say it, being bitten by a spider will not turn you into Spider-Man! Their venom doesn’t have that side effect.
Unfortunately, this isn’t good news for the males.
In some cases, depending on the species, the female spider will eat the male spider before, during, or after copulation! This happens more frequently in certain species, like the black widow and the redback spider, where the male willingly sacrifices himself to provide nourishment for the female and increase the chances of his offspring’s survival. In some cases, males even perform specific behaviors, like somersaulting into the female’s fangs, as part of the mating process.
Did you know that this behavior of sexual cannibalism is what inspired the name for widow spiders, such as the black widow?
You probably think we are being ridiculous right now, but it’s true! Peacock spiders, Maratus volans, perform a dance as part of their mating ritual, and it kind of looks like the YMCA. To add to this, the bright colors found on their abdomen make this a great spectacle to watch.
Unfortunately, if the male spider’s rendition of the YMCA doesn’t impress the female, she will attempt to attack, kill, and even eat him.
Yes, you read that right, spider silk is actually really strong. It may seem weak and brittle, but that is only due to how thin it is.
The silk in a spider’s web is actually five times stronger than a strand of steel the same thickness. It is also believed that a spider web made of strands as thick as a pencil could stop an airplane in flight!
Unlike us, spiders have blue blood.
There’s actually a scientific explanation for this though. In humans, oxygen is bound to a molecule that contains iron, this gives our blood that red color. However, in spiders, the molecule that oxygen is bound to contains copper, which gives their blood the blue color.
This may sound strange, considering we are used to seeing spider silk in the form of webs, but did you know that it is actually a liquid? When the silk comes into contact with the air, it hardens, allowing them to create and build their webs.
Inside the spider’s body, silk is stored in specialized silk glands as a liquid protein. When it is released through the spinnerets— which are tiny silk-spinning organs —it goes through a rapid transformation, hardening upon contact with air. This allows spiders to create strong, flexible threads for building webs, wrapping prey, making egg sacs, and even using silk as a safety line to escape predators.
Not only do some species of spiders like to serenade their prospective partners with a dance, but they also like to offer their loved ones a gift wrapped in silk to try and sweet talk their way into a date.
However, sometimes these males can be quite sneaky and a bit cheap. Instead of offering gifts such as flies and other insects, they offer a cheap knock-off such as scraps of leaves, or old gifts which haven’t been successful with other females.
The way in which a spider’s muscles work is quite fascinating. Their muscles can only pull their legs inward but can’t extend them out again. Unlike humans, who use muscles to both bend and straighten their limbs, spiders rely on a hydraulic system, which involves the spider pumping a watery liquid into their legs to help push them out again. This fluid, called hemolymph, acts like blood – and it essentially creates pressure that extends a spider’s legs, allowing it to move quickly and – in certain species – jump.
This is why whenever you see a dead spider, its legs are always curled inwards as there is no fluid being distributed to retract them. Without the internal pressure to extend their legs, the muscles pull inward, causing them to shrivel into their familiar curled-up position.
Are you spotting spiders around your home or business? Our spider exterminators are here to help you control infestations. Contact Western today!
Spiders don’t sleep like humans, but they do experience rest periods where they become less active. Some studies suggest they may even exhibit sleep-like behaviors, such as reduced movement and a specific resting posture.
One of the coolest things spiders can do is spin silk to create webs, catch prey, and even glide through the air. Some species, like the peacock spider, perform colorful dances to attract mates.
No, but they do have eight legs, and each leg has seven segments. While some count these joints as "knees," spiders have 16 knees, not 48.
Most spiders live one to two years, but some tarantulas can live over 20 years. Lifespan depends on species, habitat, and predators.
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