Spiders

Description

Spiders are 8 legged arthropods that breathe air. They inject venom into their prey through the use of fangs. Spiders are not insects and therefore do not have antennae. They are different from typical insect bodies in that that they have 2 rather than 3 sections. They all have silk producing “spinnerets” that are able to spin silk. All spiders spin silk but not all spiders spin webs.

Most spiders have 4 pairs of eyes that vary in placement from species to species though there are some species with 6 eyes. Cave spiders have no eyes at all.

Spider Silk

A spider abdomen has no appendages except 1 to 4 (usually 3) pairs of short, movable spinnerets, which emit silk. Each spinneret has many spigots, each of which is connected to one silk gland. There are at least six types of silk gland, each producing a different type of silk.

Even species that do not build webs to catch prey use silk in several ways: as wrappers for sperm and for fertilized eggs; as a “safety rope”; for nest-building; and as “parachutes” by the young of some species.

Silk is initially a liquid, and then hardens not by exposure to air but as a result of being drawn out, which changes the internal structure of the protein. It is similar in strength to nylon and biological substances such as chitin, collagen and cellulose, but is much more elastic being that it can stretch much further before breaking.

Size and Color

Spiders range in size from less than an inch to up to 9.5 inches for some tarantulas. There is evidence that different colors on spiders act as a type of camouflage. Some spiders use small fine hairs on their abdomens as projectiles and fling them at their enemies using their legs. Each hair has a row of tiny barbs on them and cause intense irritation but there is no venom involved.

How to Get Rid of Spiders

Spiders are tough to get rid of. No matter how many times you kill them or brush the cobwebs away they always seem to come back.

Though many people don’t like spiders in and around their home, they do perform a valuable service. When you see a spider web it means that there are enough insects to provide a living for one of our eight legged friends. Spiders keep bothersome and annoying insects at bay. However, there are some areas that can become overrun making intervention necessary. Web out (available online) prevents spiderwebs from adhering to surfaces and will keep spiders away for months especially in areas like marinas and docks. It is one of the best products used for spider extermination in severe infestation cases. With enough of the proper insect product and enough time, you can get rid of spiders from your home, boat dock, attic, crawlspace, marina or business.

Of course the easiest way to get rid of spiders is to have trained, licensed professional