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Spiders: Ataneae
Spiders have eight legs which immediately separate them from insects, which only have six legs. Spiders lack wings and antennae. Their bodies have two regions – a cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and an abdomen. All spiders have a pair of jaw-like structures, called chelicerae. At the end of each is a hollow, claw-like fang. Each fang has a small opening in the end through which venom is injected into the prey. Spinnerets, located at the tip end of the abdomen, are silk spinning glands used for web making.
Although all spiders use venom when they bite and kill their prey, the black widow and brown recluse spiders are the only North American species consistently dangerous to humans.
Spiders are considered beneficial insects because they feed on other insects. Many spiders are associated with moisture, and therefore, are found in basements, crawl spaces, and other damp parts of buildings. Others live in warm, dry places so are found in sub floor, air-vents, in upper corners of rooms or in attics.
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