Central Coast Spiders

Central Coast SpidersSpider Index Arachnura higginsi (Scorpion-tailed Spider) Arkys Index Celaenia Deinopis subrufa (Net-casting Spider) Dolophones turrigera (Turreted Wrap-around Spider) Maratus volans (Peacock Spider) Ordgarius magnificus (Magnificent Spider) Servaea villosa (Shaggy-velvet Servaea) Tetragnatha nitens (Shining Long-jawed Spider) Triangular Spiders

The Central Coast are alive… with spiders… with some amazing species calling this place home (check out our Central Coast Spider Index). Did you know that spiders belong to the class Arachnida, more commonly known as arachnids. This class is shared with other species that include scorpions, harvestmen, ticks and mites.

Spiders are mistakenly called insects, however insects belong to the class Insecta.

The main difference between the two classes are that spiders have eight legs (four pairs of legs), whilst insects have six legs (three pairs of legs). Both spiders and insects belong to the largest group of animals on Earth, known as the arthropods.

Another distinguishing feature of Arachnids are they have no antennae and no wings, with most being carnivorous, that is they feed on pre-digested bodies of insects or other small animals and birds. Some spiders are parasites, whilst many are venomous, secreting poison from specialised glands.

As well as having eight legs, spiders also have chelicerae with fangs that generally are able to inject venom and spinnerets that extrude silk.

Whilst some spider species have venom that is dangerous to humans, there is much scientific research into the application of spider venom as medicine and in the use of non-polluting pesticides. There is also research into the spiders silk production and the application in the human world.

An irrational fear of spiders is known as arachnophobia.