Arachnids, features and articles | Educational Science

Dec 17, 2023

Why are tarantulas so hairy?

Tarantulas are hair-covered beasties. But most spiders don't have such furry bodies. So why do tarantulas look so hairy? These hairs are more important than you might think. Unlike the very limited functions of human hairs, hairs on tarantulas (and other spiders) can do so very many different things, Jerome...

Jan 8, 2024

Deadly male funnel-web spider 'Hercules' breaks record as biggest ever discovered

The largest male specimen yet of the most venomous spider in the world has been found in Australia. Hercules, a funnel-web spider, is 3.1 inches (7.9 centimeters) from hairy foot to hairy foot, according to the Associated Press — about the same diameter as an Olympic gold medal. The spider...

Feb 10, 2024

Diving bell spider: The only aquatic arachnid that creates a web underwater to live in

Name: Diving bell spider or water spider (Argyroneta aquatica) Where it lives: Europe and Central and Northern Asia, with a separate subspecies in Japan What it eats: Other aquatic invertebrates and small fish Why it's awesome: As its name suggests, the diving bell spider lives almost completely underwater; it's the...

Feb 19, 2024

Giant, invasive Joro spiders with 6-foot webs could be poised to take over US cities, scientists warn

Giant, invasive Jorō spiders have spread across several U.S. states during the last decade. Now, scientists have discovered these palm-size critters are potentially much more tolerant to living in cities than other species and appear to thrive alongside major roads, which could help give them a foothold (or eight) in...

Mar 5, 2024

Brown recluse spiders: Facts, bites & symptoms

The brown recluse spider is the most common and widespread of the brown spiders, but it is usually found only in the South and Central United States. It is a small species, with a violin-shaped body that can grow up to 0.5 inches (1.2 centimeters) long. It's bite, however, can...