The most common myth is that all insects with eight legs are spiders!Bugs with eight legs are called arachnids, but not all arachnids are spiders. Unlike insects, which have six legs, spiders always have eight.Daddy long legs, the spiders famous for being most venomous, are actually harmless. It is a myth that most spiders are dangerous and capable of killing humans, in fact, many spiders are harmless. Daddy long legs is a nickname given to some long-legged spiders and sometimes to other bugs. Of the thousands of spider species, only a few may actually be venomous. There is a myth that camel spiders have killed soldiers in the Middle East, when in fact they are mostly harmless and are not even true spiders. The myth that small-fanged spiders cannot bite is refuted by the fact that many spider bites are caused by those with fangs smaller than 0.12 in (3 mm).There is a strange myth that all spiders are male, which is absolutely not true! Another myth is that all female widow spiders kill the male spiders after the reproductive process. People think that the female red, black, or brown widow spiders kill their partner after mating to ensure he does not mate with other females. The fact is that the male spider often displays cannibalism after mating, especially when he is larger than the female. Another myth, that spiders appear mostly in late summer, is true only with large species and not with many others.If you enjoy reading facts about spiders, you can always check out more! Learn if orb-weaver spiders are poisonous and if wolf spiders are venomous, here on Kidadl.Do spiders have bones in their legs?A spider’s body does not contain internal bones or an internal skeleton but is made up of a strong exoskeleton. Spiders are invertebrates with an exoskeleton. An exoskeleton is an external skeleton made up of a protein called chitin, which protects the internal organs of spiders and also protects them from predators. These arthropods do not have bones or a spine, which is typical of this class of creature. Their internal organs are protected by the external skeleton, which also holds the body together. Not having bones or a spine means that spiders are classified as invertebrates.Spiders’ long legs, which give them the ability for fast movement, have an appearance that makes them seem as if they contain bones, however, it is not true. They only have bone material present in the external part of their body, which is covered with hairy patches and cuticles. Spiders are lightweight creatures and are able to drop to the ground without making a sound!How many bones do spiders have?Another myth is that all spiders build webs. Although every spider has web building material, called spinnerets, not all will use it to build webs. Many species of spiders use it to protect their babies or catch prey. The silk they produce is unique and even to this day, it cannot be synthesized artificially. Another myth is that spiders are nuisance pests in the home, when in fact spiders are very hard-working arthropods and can help keep the house free from insects and worms. One study has shown that all the spiders in the world eat a total of 300- 800 million tons of bugs every year! A spider is a very hard-working, pest control expert.A spider’s body is made up of two parts, unlike insects which are made up of three. The two body segments of the spider are called the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Even though spiders do not have bones, they are well supported by their hard exoskeletons. Since the exoskeleton is so hard it cannot grow with the spider, so young, growing spiders have to molt. This means the spider sheds the old exoskeleton, to make way for a new exoskeleton, by pulling itself out through the cephalothorax, which can be a painful process. At this stage, after shedding the old exoskeleton, they are very vulnerable to predators and others animal attacks. They remain hidden to protect themselves until the new exoskeleton is formed. Adult spiders, once fully grown, do not continue to molt or shed their exoskeleton. Some spiders shed an exoskeleton more than once, and therefore will have worn more than two exoskeletons throughout their life!Do spiders have a skeleton?Another myth is that spiders can lay eggs under human skin! But fear not, the fact is that their exoskeletons are not tough enough that they can break through human skin. They actually carry their eggs in a sac and take care of them until the spiderlings hatch and become independent. Only a few species of spiders abandon their eggs and wander off. Another myth, that all spiders are aggressive, is also not true. Most spiders keep to themselves and avoid humans, this also busts the myth that we swallow spiders in our sleep.We now know that invertebrates do have a skeleton but that it’s not an internal skeleton like humans and other animals have. A spider has an exoskeleton, which is located outside the body, meaning internal organs don’t have an anchor to attach to. Spider anatomy shows that body parts such as eyes, fangs, stomach, brain, legs, etc., are attached to the first segment. The second segment, the abdomen, holds the spinnerets, which are the silk-producing glands. A spider’s legs are covered with hairs that sense vibrations and smells in the air. Each of the eight legs has six joints and a total of 48 knees. So, if they don’t have bones with muscles attached, how can they move so fast? Many spiders move really fast and some spiders, like jumping spiders, are known to jump almost 20 to 40 times their body length! These animals have bodily fluids, which replace the extensor muscles and help to thrust their legs outward and their bodies ahead. The outward leg movement happens due to the hydraulic action of this fluid and the inward movement is a natural contraction of the flexor muscles. It is the fluid in the spider’s body that has a key role in the movement of these animals and this is the reason why a dead spider will have its legs curled up.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked reading about spiders having bones, then why not find out if jumping spiders are poisonous or if spiders can sense danger?
The most common myth is that all insects with eight legs are spiders!
