How Are Spiders Different From Insects?

There are some differences between insects and spiders, but both animals have unique features. In this article, you will learn how to distinguish between these two groups of arthropods.

Spiders and insects are both air-breathing animals. The difference lies in their body structure. Both animals have three main segments and one or two pairs of wings. They also have compound eyes and mandibles. Most insects have antennae.

Spiders belong to the class Arachnida, and they are classified under the phylum Arthropoda. Spiders are small, carnivores, and they use silk webs to hunt food.

They are unisexual. Spiders lay multiple eggs, and they are able to grow over time. As they do, they change into various forms, including adults and caterpillars. These changes may happen in a single day, or it could take a few weeks.

Spiders have chelicerae, or “fangs.” Chelicerae are hollow, and they contain venomous glands. This allows the spider to inject venom into its prey.

Spiders and insects have a common exoskeleton, though they differ in other ways. Many species of insects have antennae, while some spiders have very long antennae. Another similarity is that both groups of creatures have chitinous exoskeletons.

While many people have arachnophobia, these are not true insects. Although insects do not cause diseases, some insects can be parasitic. Some types of insects can live in water and eat plants. For example, some of the insects known for their wings are butterflies, beetles, and silverfish.