Fascinating Facts about Spiders for Kids

Spiders are not insects, they are actually arachnids.

Spiders have eight legs and two body parts – the cephalothorax and the abdomen.

There are more than 40,000 known species of spiders in the world.

Spiders have silk glands in their abdomen and use silk to create webs for catching prey.

Some spiders don’t build webs but instead hunt for their food.

Spiders are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Spiders have multiple pairs of eyes, and their vision varies from species to species.

Some spiders have really hairy bodies, while others have smooth bodies.

Spiders are very good at hiding, and they often blend in with their surroundings.

The largest species of spider is the Goliath birdeater, which can have a leg span of up to 11 inches.

Spiders molt (shed their old exoskeleton) as they grow.

Spiders are excellent hunters and can catch insects much larger than themselves.

The silk of a spider web is five times stronger than steel of the same weight.

Spiders are cold-blooded animals, meaning their body temperature adjusts to their environment.

Female spiders are usually larger than males.

Some spiders are venomous and use their venom to paralyze or kill their prey.

The word arachnid comes from the Greek mythological creature Arachne, who was turned into a spider.

Some spiders, like the jumping spider, have the ability to leap several times their own body length.

Fascinating Facts about Spiders for Kids part 2

Spider silk is used by scientists to create various materials, including bulletproof vests.

The smallest spider in the world is the Patu digua, which is only 0.37 mm long.

Spiders play an important role in ecosystems by controlling the population of insects.

Spiders have been on Earth for more than 300 million years.

The orb-weaving spiders create circular-shaped webs.

Some spiders, like the tarantula, can live for several decades.

There are some spiders that prefer to live underwater and catch prey from there.

Spiders are not insects because they have eight legs instead of six.

A group of spiderlings is called a clutch.

Spiders use their fangs to inject venom into their prey.

The banana spider is named for its bright yellow color and resembles a ripe banana.

Spiders are skilled hunters and use their sense of touch to detect vibrations in their webs.

The world’s fastest spider, the giant house spider, can run up to 1.73 feet per second.

Some spiders, like the trapdoor spider, build burrows with a hinged door as their homes.

The jumping spider has the best vision among all spider species.

Spiders are more afraid of humans than we are of them, and they usually try to hide or run away.

The bite of most spiders is harmless to humans and only causes mild irritation.

Spiders are found in a wide variety of habitats, from deserts to rainforests.

Spiders have special sensors on their legs that allow them to detect vibrations in the air.

The world’s most venomous spider is the Brazilian wandering spider, also known as the banana spider.

Spiders have a unique way of breathing called book lungs.

Some spiders, like the peacock spider, have colorful patterns on their bodies to attract mates.

Spiders are not social creatures and usually prefer to live alone.

The silk of a spider web is not sticky when it is first created, but it becomes sticky once the spider adds droplets of glue to it.

Spiders can regenerate lost legs or body parts.

Tarantulas are nocturnal creatures and prefer to hunt at night.

Some spiders, like the black widow, are cannibalistic and may eat their mates after mating.