Spiders are very unsettling. Even though only a few spider species bite, and most of these bites are relatively harmless, arachnophobia (fear of spiders) is one of the most common phobias in the United States.
So, more than likely, someone in your household or some of your guests are arachnophobes. But before you call us to get rid of spiders, let’s take a moment to think about these bugs.
There are 38,000 known spider species, and many scientists believe that’s only a fraction of the total number.
Between one and three million spiders live on every acre of land in all continents except Antarctica.
Spiders consume more insects than bats and birds put together.
All spiders produce silk, but not all spiders create silk webs.
Male spiders sometimes use “sperm” webs for reproductive purposes.
To avoid getting stuck in their own webs, spiders rely on tiny claws on their leg tips as well as an oily layer covering their bodies.
When moving, a spider always has four legs on the ground and four legs off the ground.
Blood disorders are among the worst possible effects of spider bites. In rare cases, a spider bite causes red blood cells to explode.
Dead spiders have curled-up legs because there is no hydraulic pressure to push them out. A spider’s muscles can only pull its legs in.
Most spiders have three silk-producing spinnerets, which resemble showerheads, at the backs of their abdomens.
Spiders do not evolve quickly. Many of today’s spiders look almost the same as they did three hundred million years ago.
The world’s biggest spider has one-inch fangs it uses to hunt snakes, frogs, and birds. The world’s tiniest spider is smaller than the tip of a pencil.
Brazilian Wandering Spiders are the deadliest spiders in the world. A tiny amount of venom could be fatal to humans.
Brown Recluse Spider bites are initially painless. So, many people do not know they have been bitten, and these bites are potentially fatal. Brown Recluse Spiders are quite common in the Southeast.
“Spider” and “spinster” both come from the same Old English word.
If their legs are covered with tiny hairs, spiders can climb walls. Not all spiders have this physical trait.
Spider webs are incredibly strong. A knot of webs as thick as a pencil could stop a flying jumbo jet.
Most spiders build new webs every day. But a few webs can last up to three years.
To attract mates, some male spiders give females dead flies.
Although spiders cannot fly, they can sail through the air on silk strands.
Water Spiders live their entire lives under the waves. They use their webs to make diving bells.
A jumping spider can leap forty times its body length. That’s like a person jumping 240 feet.
Spiders live at elevations of up to 23,000 feet.
A few spiders eat their own webs so they can reuse them.
Many years ago, people used spider webs instead of bandages. Now, scientists know that spider webs are rich in blood-clotting Vitamin K.
To learn more spider facts, or to get rid of the ones you have, call us now.
