Upon mentioning the word 'pest', a number of insects may come to mind. However, one of the most common and dreaded ones is the eight-legged furry species we call a spider.
These pests fall under the zoological category of the Arachnids and are known to make their way into various parts of your home uninvited. While you may know how many legs or eyes this pest has, there are a few lesser-known facts that may leave you wide-eyed. Read some of them below.
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Any Side You Turn, You will find a Spider
Just because you cannot see a spider doesn't mean that there isn't one. Even while this pest may not be very visible, they are known to hide in nooks and crannies of your home or on your property. In fact, according to research, there is always one hiding within 10 feet from you.
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Spiders are of Various Sizes
Scientists have only discovered about 35,000 species of these insects. While this seems like a large enough number there are many other species that have not been discovered yet. This current number also represents several variations in the species, referring to different shapes and sizes.
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Just a Few Bites can be Termed as Fatal
There are very few spiders that can invoke serious health conditions with their bite or the venom in their bite. Further, not all of these insects are venomous. The best news yet, these insects do not bite frequently. So, most of these furry legged insects found around your home, may not be as dangerous as you think, not that it will make most of you detest them any lesser.
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Female have a Larger Appetite
Out of the two genders, the female is known to have a larger appetite, talk about a big eater! Moreover, some females, based on the species, even devour their mates. The time of this carnivorous behaviour differs and has no fixed timing. This means, while some females devour their partners before copulation, others may do so post it or even during it.
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Spiders Love the YMCA!
The Maratus Volans, the peacock spider, is known to do a special kind of dance, much like the steps to the YMCA. This dance is an important part of their mating ritual.
In fact, this is so important that if the male does not get it right, he can face the outcome of death too! While we can't be sure the female finds the bright colours on the male to be as entertaining, we can be sure that she will attack him and even eat him if she doesn't like the dance!
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Spider Silk is Strong
Every one of these insects is born with the instincts to weave a web. The web helps this little pest catch its prey. The web is woven in a geometrical pattern with lines from the centre radiating outside. The spider produces silk in the silk glands with the help of special organs called spinnerets.
Depending on its requirement, the spider decides what thickness the silk thread should be? This thread is also five times as strong as a steel stand of the same thickness. Further, some say that if this insect weaves its web with silk threads as thick as a pencil it can stop an airplane from flying through.
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Spiders are Blue-blooded
In the human blood, molecules of oxygen are coated with iron. This is the reason why our blood is red. But in the case of a spider, each molecule of oxygen is coated with copper giving the blood a blue colour.
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Spider Silk is Liquid
A spider's silk is liquid but as it comes in contact with air it dries up and solidifies. These silk threads can be smooth or beaded, thick or thin, or dry or sticky.
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Male Spiders Like to Give Presents
The spider, like the peacock, does a dance to attract its mate and will entice her with gifts like flies and insects wrapped up in silk. At times, some of these pests may present gifts that were previously rejected by their other mates or give cheaper gifts such as little scraps of old leaves.
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Spiders have Strange Muscles
This pest's muscles function in a very strange manner. The spider can only pull its legs in but are not able to extend them outward. During movement, the spider has to force bodily fluids into their legs to assist them to push their legs outward. That's why dead spiders have their legs curled inwardly.
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