8th Perspective
Rania Z
Age: 13
Houston, Texas
Rania Z
Age: 13
Houston, Texas
It scampered along the baseboards, each dwindly, hairy leg moving as one. It stopped for a moment, it’s eyes surveying the home. It moved again, slightly, creeping slowly towards the open door. Then, it saw the shadow.
A shriek rang through the air. A long, manicured finger pointed accusingly at the creature.
“Spider!”
The arachnid scurried away from the human, running as quickly as it’s eight legs could carry it. It knew what would happen if he were caught.
Infamously popular, a spider would probably be one of the most feared creatures on the planet. But contrary to many beliefs, spiders aren’t guilty of misdeeds as we think they are. In spite of the fear many have of them, spiders are actually very fascinating.
Firstly, it’s important to know what spiders are. Spiders are in the Arachnida class, which consists of a variety of arthropods. Some of which include ticks, mites, scorpions, etcetera. The prerequisites for this class include having an exoskeleton, aa well as a segmented body. Their head and thorax are fused together, with their abdomen. Spiders, specifically, have special features such as spinnerets, to produce silk, poison glands, that are at the base of their appendages, and some species have book lungs (called so because of their thin membranes, which look like the pages of a book).
Many do not realize the effect that spiders have in the ecosystem. Spiders, who prey on insects, keep the insect population at the right level. Indirectly, they prevent the spread of disease. Many fleas, mites, mosquitoes and other insects, carry diseases that are dangerous to humans. Spiders eat these pests and indirectly keep humans safe. They also consume bugs that eat crops, such as caterpillars or even aphids. Thus, they not only rid disease, but keep famine at bay too.
People are often afraid of spiders because they think the spider will harm them. While it is important to keep your distance, most spiders are not venomous, and the ones that are, are rarely fatal to humans. Like many animals, spiders will only attack when they are harmed, so when you come in close encounter with one, be sure not to threaten or hurt it.
Although it is a feared being, spiders are more beneficial than people realize. Without these eight-legged creatures, life would be different than it is today.
Bibliography
"Arachnids." UXL Encyclopedia of Science. Encyclopedia.com. 2002. Web. 2 Jul 2018.
Milne, Lorus Johnson, et al. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. 1st ed., vol. 1, A.A. Knopf, 1980.
Marsh, Laura. “Spiders (National Geographic Readers Series).” Barnes & Noble, The B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog, Web. 2 Jul 2018.
A shriek rang through the air. A long, manicured finger pointed accusingly at the creature.
“Spider!”
The arachnid scurried away from the human, running as quickly as it’s eight legs could carry it. It knew what would happen if he were caught.
Infamously popular, a spider would probably be one of the most feared creatures on the planet. But contrary to many beliefs, spiders aren’t guilty of misdeeds as we think they are. In spite of the fear many have of them, spiders are actually very fascinating.
Firstly, it’s important to know what spiders are. Spiders are in the Arachnida class, which consists of a variety of arthropods. Some of which include ticks, mites, scorpions, etcetera. The prerequisites for this class include having an exoskeleton, aa well as a segmented body. Their head and thorax are fused together, with their abdomen. Spiders, specifically, have special features such as spinnerets, to produce silk, poison glands, that are at the base of their appendages, and some species have book lungs (called so because of their thin membranes, which look like the pages of a book).
Many do not realize the effect that spiders have in the ecosystem. Spiders, who prey on insects, keep the insect population at the right level. Indirectly, they prevent the spread of disease. Many fleas, mites, mosquitoes and other insects, carry diseases that are dangerous to humans. Spiders eat these pests and indirectly keep humans safe. They also consume bugs that eat crops, such as caterpillars or even aphids. Thus, they not only rid disease, but keep famine at bay too.
People are often afraid of spiders because they think the spider will harm them. While it is important to keep your distance, most spiders are not venomous, and the ones that are, are rarely fatal to humans. Like many animals, spiders will only attack when they are harmed, so when you come in close encounter with one, be sure not to threaten or hurt it.
Although it is a feared being, spiders are more beneficial than people realize. Without these eight-legged creatures, life would be different than it is today.
Bibliography
"Arachnids." UXL Encyclopedia of Science. Encyclopedia.com. 2002. Web. 2 Jul 2018.
Milne, Lorus Johnson, et al. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. 1st ed., vol. 1, A.A. Knopf, 1980.
Marsh, Laura. “Spiders (National Geographic Readers Series).” Barnes & Noble, The B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog, Web. 2 Jul 2018.
Editor's note
To learn more please click on the links below.
Spider Conservation in the United States
The Washington Post (Article) - The Case For Spider Conservation: They Keep The Pests From Devouring Humans' Food Supply
Return to Current Issue
To learn more please click on the links below.
Spider Conservation in the United States
The Washington Post (Article) - The Case For Spider Conservation: They Keep The Pests From Devouring Humans' Food Supply
Return to Current Issue