One creepy crawly known for scaring people is the spider. These arachnids have a bad reputation, but some spiders can be beneficial. Whether you don’t mind spiders or you would prefer to avoid them, they are interesting creatures. Check out five facts about spiders.
1. Only Some Spiders Are Dangerous
These arachnids may give you nightmares, but they aren’t all harmful. Spiders like the brown recluse and black widow make people leery because of their toxic venom. While almost all spiders have some kind of venom, they are not all dangerous to humans. Thankfully, the toxicity of most spider venom is low enough that we don’t have to worry about them.
2. Spiders Can Eat Their Own Webs
Some spiders like to recycle. Orb-weaving spiders sometimes choose to eat the silk from their webs. By breaking down the amino acids in the silk, they can replenish their protein supply. The protein is then used in the production of silk. While this isn’t an everyday occurrence, it does ensure that orb-weavers always have access to necessary protein.
3. Many Spiders Roam the Earth
There are a lot of spiders crawling around on Earth. Over 45,000 species of spiders can be found in the world. In the United States, there are over 3,000 species. These spiders range in size and color. You can find common house spiders, jumping spiders, funnel weavers, and more throughout the United States.
4. Spiders Can Be Helpful
Despite people running away from them, spiders hanging around can be a good thing. Spiders do a great job of controlling insect populations. The occasional spider in your house can keep unwanted pests away. Farmers also show some appreciation for spiders. Having spiders in gardens and near crops is beneficial. Spiders eat the bugs that like to nibble on the crops. The next time you eat your veggies, you may want to thank the spider hanging around outside.
5. Some Spiders Like to Socialize
Most spiders are solitary and prefer to be alone. However, there are social spider species. One of these species, Anelosimus eximius, lives in groups with thousands of spiders. These spiders are found in rainforests. They work together to build spider webs, trap their prey, and take care of the spiderlings. These spiders can create large webs, and one of their webs measured 25 feet in length.
Spiders may not be your favorite creature, but it never hurts to learn more about them. These arachnids can be found throughout the world, and they live interesting lives. What’s your favorite spider fact? Let us know in the comments below!