Last Friday was Save a Spider Day, so let’s talk about spiders! You probably already know about their eight legs and connection to a famous superhero, but did you know there are spiders that can dance, ones that swim, and even some that pretend to be ants? There are over 45,000 different species of spiders in the world [1], and they have evolved all kinds of cool behaviors! Most notably, spiders produce silk that can have different uses. Many spiders construct elaborate webs out of silk in order to catch their insect prey. Other spiders use silk to float through the air. This method of travel is called ballooning, and is most often used by young spiders (called spiderlings!) [2].
Spiders play an important role in the ecosystem because they help control insect populations. They can help out in your garden by hunting beetles, caterpillars, and aphids [2]. Some people let spiders build webs in the corners of their house in order to catch mosquitoes and flies. But, if you ever find a spider where it is unwanted, make sure to use a cup and a piece of paper to gently move it outside. Thank you to Alan for sharing this spectacular spider artwork with us!
Artwork contributed by Alan.
Other Resources:
Eight-Legged Encounters | Hebets Lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
If you have any artwork of animals that you would like to share, you can submit them using these guidelines.
References:
[1] National Geographic. (n.d.) Spiders. Spiders.
[2] Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences. (n.d.) Spiders. Spiders.
[Edited by Siobhan Calhoun and Ruth Demree]
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