Types of Spiders In Missouri
are a diverse group of arthropods that belong to the order Araneae and the class Arachnida. They have eight legs, two body segments, and produce silk from specialized glands. Spiders can be found in almost every habitat on Earth, and there are more than 45,000 known species of spiders.
Some ofThe Common Types of Spiders
– Funnel-web spiders: These spiders belong to the family Agelenidae and build funnel-shaped webs to catch their prey. They are usually brown or gray and have long legs. Some species of funnel-web spiders are venomous and can cause serious bites.
– Orb-weaver spiders: These spiders belong to the family Araneidae and spin circular webs with radial and spiral threads. They are often colorful and have distinctive patterns on their abdomen. Orb-weaver spiders are harmless to humans and help control insect populations.
– Sac spiders: These spiders belong to the family Clubionidae and do not build webs. They hide in silk sacs during the day and hunt at night. They are usually yellow or pale brown and have eight eyes arranged in two rows. Sac spiders can bite humans but their venom is not dangerous.
– Wolf spiders: These spiders belong to the family Lycosidae and are active hunters that do not use webs. They have excellent vision and can run fast. They are usually brown or gray and have a distinctive arrangement of eyes: four small ones on the bottom row, two large ones in the middle, and two medium ones on the top row. Wolf spiders can bite humans but their venom is mild.
– Hunting spiders: These spiders belong to various families and share the characteristic of hunting without webs. They include jumping spiders, crab spiders, lynx spiders, and others. They have different adaptations for capturing their prey, such as jumping ability, camouflage, or spiny legs. Hunting spiders are generally harmless to humans and some are very colorful or have interesting behaviors.
