Spiders are highly diverse arthropods, and identifying a spider species is challenging even for arachnologists. This article tells you how to identify a spider with simple tips on identifying it.
Many people are confused as to whether spiders are insects or not. Well, they are not insects, but animal species classified under the phylum Arthropoda. Except for extremely cold regions, spider habitats are found all over the world. So, you can imagine the diversity in these arthropods. As of date, about 40,000 spider species are described scientifically. If you have a keen interest on how to identify a spider, take simple steps for distinguishing spiders from the remaining arachnids.
Basic Spider Identification Guide
The subbranch of zoology that deals with in-depth study of spiders is referred to as Arachnology. Though different types of spiders have specific features unique to them, they all share some common attributes. These animal species are air-breathing arthropods and bear special appendages (called chelicerae) near the mouth. These mouth parts are modified for grasping their prey and injecting venom. The body is divided into two main parts, the cephalothorax and abdomen. Unlike common insects, spiders have four pairs of legs.
A reliable key concerning how to identify a spider is its ability of spinning webs, which vary in shape, size and pattern according to species. In fact, it is possible to identify a spider by its web. Say for example, the Australian garden orb weaver spider, and black and yellow garden spider make large orb webs; while the comb-footed spiders spin tangled webs. Likewise, there are tubular webs, funnel webs, tent webs and sheet ways amongst others. Some spider species are known for their decorative webs having intricate designs.
How to Identify Poisonous House Spiders?
Of all the animals, spiders are listed seventh for their highly diverse species. With great diversity amongst spiders, it is not so easy to identify them individually. For identification, you need to have a watchful eye and magnifying hand lens to examine the color, body shape and various body parts. And while trying to identify a spider, do not handle it directly with hands. Some of the species are poisonous and spider bites can be dangerous. Here's how to identify a spider from its external characteristic features.
Black Widow Spider
The black widow spider is a very easy to identify house spider. If you notice one with distinctive red markings on the underside of its body, it is probably the female black widow spider. Background color is shiny black, and abdomen is bulbous. In simple words, its body shape looks like an hourglass. The female spider is larger and more venomous than the male black widow spider.
Funnel-Web Spider
There are about 40 species of funnel web spiders, and they are known to be some of the world's most poisonous spiders. They are larger types of spiders, measuring about 1.5-5 cm in body length. Having a glossy black head, the body portion may be brown or black in color. The eyes are abnormally small with reference to the body size, and are positioned closely. The female funnel-web spider is bigger than the male counterpart.
Brown Recluse Spider
Speaking more about how to identify a spider, let's take a look at brown recluse spider. As the name goes, the body color of this small spider (body length 0.7.1.2 mm) is uniform brown, and devoid of markings. The legs are covered with fine tuffs of hair, but lack spines. The identifying attribute of brown recluse is the presence of 3 pairs of eyes, while other spiders have 4 pairs.
Hobo Spider
Included in the poisoning spiders list, it is responsible for several cases of envenomation in Europe and North America. The adult hobo spider is 1.2-1.8 cm in length, brown in color and lacks the typical abdominal markings. Rather, hobo spider has several chevron like markings in the abdomen, and its whole body is covered by fine short hair. The male hobo spider can be identified from its two distinct palps.
Though general tips for identifying spiders are understandable, you will need reference pictures and specimens for how to identify species of a spider. Once you are thorough with the basic keys for how to identify a spider, you can proceed to describing spider species that you find interesting. What you can do is jot down the external characters, and compare them with the description of similar spider species. With reliable spider information and pictures (labeled), identifying these creatures becomes easy.
Basic Spider Identification Guide
The subbranch of zoology that deals with in-depth study of spiders is referred to as Arachnology. Though different types of spiders have specific features unique to them, they all share some common attributes. These animal species are air-breathing arthropods and bear special appendages (called chelicerae) near the mouth. These mouth parts are modified for grasping their prey and injecting venom. The body is divided into two main parts, the cephalothorax and abdomen. Unlike common insects, spiders have four pairs of legs.
A reliable key concerning how to identify a spider is its ability of spinning webs, which vary in shape, size and pattern according to species. In fact, it is possible to identify a spider by its web. Say for example, the Australian garden orb weaver spider, and black and yellow garden spider make large orb webs; while the comb-footed spiders spin tangled webs. Likewise, there are tubular webs, funnel webs, tent webs and sheet ways amongst others. Some spider species are known for their decorative webs having intricate designs.
How to Identify Poisonous House Spiders?
Of all the animals, spiders are listed seventh for their highly diverse species. With great diversity amongst spiders, it is not so easy to identify them individually. For identification, you need to have a watchful eye and magnifying hand lens to examine the color, body shape and various body parts. And while trying to identify a spider, do not handle it directly with hands. Some of the species are poisonous and spider bites can be dangerous. Here's how to identify a spider from its external characteristic features.
Black Widow Spider
The black widow spider is a very easy to identify house spider. If you notice one with distinctive red markings on the underside of its body, it is probably the female black widow spider. Background color is shiny black, and abdomen is bulbous. In simple words, its body shape looks like an hourglass. The female spider is larger and more venomous than the male black widow spider.
Funnel-Web Spider
There are about 40 species of funnel web spiders, and they are known to be some of the world's most poisonous spiders. They are larger types of spiders, measuring about 1.5-5 cm in body length. Having a glossy black head, the body portion may be brown or black in color. The eyes are abnormally small with reference to the body size, and are positioned closely. The female funnel-web spider is bigger than the male counterpart.
Brown Recluse Spider
Speaking more about how to identify a spider, let's take a look at brown recluse spider. As the name goes, the body color of this small spider (body length 0.7.1.2 mm) is uniform brown, and devoid of markings. The legs are covered with fine tuffs of hair, but lack spines. The identifying attribute of brown recluse is the presence of 3 pairs of eyes, while other spiders have 4 pairs.
Hobo Spider
Included in the poisoning spiders list, it is responsible for several cases of envenomation in Europe and North America. The adult hobo spider is 1.2-1.8 cm in length, brown in color and lacks the typical abdominal markings. Rather, hobo spider has several chevron like markings in the abdomen, and its whole body is covered by fine short hair. The male hobo spider can be identified from its two distinct palps.
Though general tips for identifying spiders are understandable, you will need reference pictures and specimens for how to identify species of a spider. Once you are thorough with the basic keys for how to identify a spider, you can proceed to describing spider species that you find interesting. What you can do is jot down the external characters, and compare them with the description of similar spider species. With reliable spider information and pictures (labeled), identifying these creatures becomes easy.
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