Let's explore some spiders up close
Spotted or striped or marbled and covered in hair. What are we talking about? Spiders, of course.
Many people have a fear of spiders. There is even a special name for it.
Arachnophobia is an extreme, intense and irrational fear of spiders. The key word here is irrational. Rationally speaking, spiders are nothing to be afraid of.
Spiders are cute!
Unlike humans, spiders do not have eyelids. Spiders have these adorable eyelashes for the same reason we have eyelids. They protect their eyes and block dirt, dust, sweat or other debris from getting into the eyeball.
In addition to eyelashes, spiders also have facial hair. Eyelashes and facial hair help spiders with their "spidey senses," allowing them to feel vibrations while they hunt insects and assess the area for danger.
Looking at a close-up picture of a spider's foot, you could compare it to a cat or a dog paw. Spider paws are no ordinary feet; they help coordinate their eight legs to move carefully and deliberately on their sticky webs. The delicate hairs on the spider’s paw actually help the spider hold on to flat surfaces, defying gravity. Now that’s fashion and function!
Words to know
Debris: The remains of something broken or destroyed.
Intricate: Having many complex parts or elements.
Irrational: Lacking reason or understanding.
Rational: Having reason or understanding.
They got the moves!
Male spiders perform intricate dances to impress the picky females and get their attention. They also boogie around on their webs to shake and further entangle prey that have accidentally stopped in for a visit ... and end up being a spider snack.
That's not glitter on the ground
You can find spiders by using your flashlight and looking for eyeshine. They have a layer of tissue called a tapetum that acts as a reflective layer inside their eye – almost like a tiny mirror shining back at you. Slowly walk through the grass looking for glittering reflections. It almost resembles the sparkle of the morning dew in the grass. But look closer and you will likely find not a drop of dew but a spider looking back at you.
See for yourself!
Spiders aren't as scary as people make them out to be. Go on a nighttime spider stroll in your neighborhood. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, a magnifying glass and a bunch of bravery. Check between bushes and trees for a shimmery, glimmery strand of web. Follow it like a treasure map to see if it leads to a spider’s web. A spider in its web, undisturbed by wind or other weather, is where it wants to be. The web is its home and its food source. So get close and carefully observe these eight-legged friends.
