Arachnids or Spiders

The class Arachnida consists over 100,000 species, including Ticks, Mites, King crabs, Scorpions, and Spiders, with the majority of species of a terrestrial habit mainly differing from insects because of the lack of antennae, and eight legs. Their articulated bodies are divided into the abdomen and cephalothorax or prosoma and opisthoma. The prosoma has four pairs of articulated segmented legs which usually have a splayed or sprawled posture ; mouthparts (chelicera); and pincerlike claws (pedipalps). The pedipalps can be used for sperm transfer as well as holding food for the chelicera, and above them centrally located, are the simple eyes. The only appendage on the opisthoma is the web producing spinnerets

. Arachnids are able to climb smooth surfaces in search of prey using adhesive pads on the end of their legs, and when prey is found venom can be used to stun or kill. Their prey being insects makes them often a beneficial insect to the garden and some crops. Arachnids do not undergo metamorphosis and instead repeatedly shed skin with structural changes.

Image above showing the spider that bit Peter Parker

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