Are you afraid of spiders? If so, you’re not alone! Lots of people think spiders are scary. About 1 out of 3 people have arachnophobia—a big fear of spiders. There are almost 50,000 different kinds of spiders in the world!
Maybe your fear comes from a spooky movie about giant spiders crawling out of a tunnel. Yikes! But are spiders really that scary? Let’s find out!
First, Is a Spider an Insect?
Nope! Spiders are not insects. Insects have six legs, but spiders have eight! They are part of a group called arachnids. Most spiders spin webs to catch food, and they are really good at it!
Can spiders bite? Yes, but most don’t. And guess what? Only about 6 people a year die from a spider bite. More than 30 people die from dog bites each year! So, spiders aren’t as dangerous as they seem.
What about black widows and brown recluse spiders? Yes, their bites can hurt, but they like to hide in dark places. If you wear gloves when reaching into garages or sheds, you’ll be just fine!
Why Do People Think Spiders Are Scary?
Why do spiders freak people out? There are a few reasons:
- They move in weird ways. Some spiders move fast and in all directions, which can be a little creepy.
- They have eight legs! That’s more than most animals we see every day.
- Their webs are surprising. Have you ever walked into a spider web? It’s not fun! But remember, the spider worked hard on that web, and now it has to build a new one.
Spiders Are Helpful!
Even if they seem scary, spiders are actually great to have around! They eat bugs like:
- Mosquitoes
- Flies
- Roaches
- Aphids
Spiders help keep bug numbers down inside and outside your home. If you see a spider in your house, you might want to let it stay. It will keep eating pests for you!
But what if you want to move it outside? Most spiders won’t survive long outside if they’ve been living indoors. So, if you can, try to let them stay where they are.
Cool Spider Facts!
Did you know spiders have superpowers?
- Spider silk is super strong! It’s stronger than steel but much lighter.
- Some spiders don’t make webs. But the ones that do create amazing designs.
- It takes about an hour for a spider to weave a web.
- Some spiders “play” their web like a guitar to attract a mate!
- You do NOT swallow spiders in your sleep. That’s just a myth!
- Some female spiders eat their mates. Yikes!
How Can We Help Spiders?
Want to help spiders? Here’s how:
- Teach others about spiders! Share fun spider facts so people aren’t scared of them.
- Don’t use too many pesticides. Bug sprays can hurt spiders and other good bugs.
- Give spiders a home in your yard! If you see a web, admire it instead of tearing it down.
Spiders might look scary, but they are helpful, amazing creatures. Next time you see one, take a closer look—you might just think it’s cool!
