Buzz
While many people find spiders unsettling, these arachnids are as crucial to our ecosystems as bees. Serving as the primary non-vertebrate predators, spiders play a vital role in controlling insect populations. Without them, bugs would overrun crops, drastically reducing—or even eliminating—human populations, explains Norman Platnick, Curator Emeritus of the Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History and curator of the Spiders Alive! exhibition, launching tomorrow at the museum.
“Some visitors may come with a fear of spiders, which I can somewhat relate to, as I have a fear of snakes,” Platnick admits. “However, my fear is somewhat rational since many snakes are dangerous. Fear of spiders, on the other hand, is largely irrational. Through this exhibit, we aim to demonstrate that spiders are not only harmless but also beautiful, intriguing, and incredibly beneficial to humanity.”
Platnick also emphasizes that spider research is a dynamic and evolving field. “So far, arachnologists have documented nearly 45,000 spider species,” he notes. “Yet, this likely accounts for only half of their total diversity, with new discoveries being made at an astonishing rate.”
Spiders Alive! highlights 16 unique spider species, along with two scorpions and a vinegaroon. The exhibit includes live demonstrations and an enormous trap door spider model, scaled 50 times its actual size, which visitors can climb on. Here are some fascinating insights from a preview visit.
1. While brown recluse venom can severely damage human tissue, it has minimal impact on rats and mice. Interestingly, rabbits are highly susceptible, with wounds developing from just 15 micrograms of venom.
2. Spider fossils are rare due to their soft exoskeletons. For every 1000 insect fossils found, only one spider fossil is uncovered.
3. Although spiders are typically solitary, around 20 species, such as the African funnel-web spider, collaborate for survival, sharing webs with hundreds of others.
4. Here’s a tip for the brave: To spot wolf spiders at night, use a flashlight—their eyes will reflect the light, similar to a cat’s, though less endearing.
5. The name 'tarantula' originates from a medieval illness in Taranto, Italy, mistakenly believed to be caused by the bite of a large, harmless spider. To cure it, victims performed the 'tarantella' dance until exhaustion. This spider became so infamous that settlers in the New World named any large, hairy spider they encountered a tarantula.
Photo by Erin McCarthy
6. Tarantulas in the Americas defend themselves by flicking urticating hairs from their abdomens using their hind legs. These sharp, irritating hairs can lodge into a predator’s skin, eyes, or respiratory system, allowing the spider to escape. A bald patch on the abdomen is a clear sign the tarantula has used this defense mechanism.
7. Contrary to its name, the Goliath bird eater seldom preys on birds. This massive spider, one of the largest globally, primarily feeds on snakes, mice, and frogs.
8. While not all spiders spin webs, all produce silk, which is released from flexible spinnerets. These spinnerets can move independently, enabling spiders to direct silk flow without moving their bodies. Silk is used for protecting eggs, 'ballooning' through the air, or attracting mates. The Argyroneta aquatica spider even uses silk to create an underwater air-filled dome, allowing it to stay submerged for up to a day.
9. Spider silk has been utilized for remarkable purposes throughout history. In the 1800s, Solomon Islanders crafted fishnets from it, and in 1943, the U.S. Army employed black widow silk for crosshairs in optical devices. Modern science has even used spider silk as a framework for cultivating human skin cells.
10. Orb webs consist of three key components: the foundational frame, the radial spokes that detect prey vibrations, and the elastic catching spiral that traps insects. Some spiders dismantle and rebuild their webs frequently, sometimes daily.
11. The beloved character Charlotte A. Cavatica from Charlotte’s Web is inspired by the orb-weaving spider Araneus cavaticus. E.B. White sought guidance from an AMNH expert while writing the book.
Photo by Erin McCarthy
12. AMNH houses the world’s largest spider research collection, boasting over 1 million specimens. Unlike insects, which are pinned, spiders are preserved in alcohol to prevent drying, ensuring their scientific value remains intact.
AND, JUST FOR FUN ... A BONUS PHOTO OF A GIANT VINEGAROON!
If you provoke one of these arachnids, they’ll release a pungent spray from their abdomens. Consider this your warning!
All images provided by AMNH unless specified otherwise.
