Spiders are among the most fascinating and diverse creatures on Earth. With more than 50,000 known species, they are found everywhere from forests to the sea. On this site, we have included many spider species such as cranberry field spiders, flying spiders, sea spiders and cranberry spiders. We also include information such as how many eyes spiders have, are their bites harmful, and what are their poisons.
Cranberry field spiders are an example of a type of spider usually found in cranberry bogs and agricultural fields in North America. Cranberry field spiders play a very important role in pest control. They therefore have many positive aspects for farmers.
The cranberry field spider is not an isolated species. Several species are so named by farmers and people because they live in cranberry fields. These species are.
Wolf spiders (Lycosidae): A fast-moving ground-hunting spider. They play an important role in pest control.
Orb weaving spiders (Araneidae): Known for their intricate webs and play a major role in controlling flying pests.
Jumping spiders (Salticidae): They have highly developed eyesight and use their jumping ability to feed on insects on the cranberry plant.
Sea spiders, also known as Pycnogonids, are marine arthropods that resemble spiders. They belong to the class Pycnogonida, a separate group from arachnids.
What are the General Characteristics of Sea Spiders?
They are found in oceans around the world.
They have long, thin legs and small bodies.
They feed on soft-bodied marine invertebrates such as sponges and sea anemones.
They breathe through their legs because they don’t have a respiratory system like spiders that live on land.
Sea spiders are not related to land spiders. They often cause confusion due to their appearance and predatory nature.
Most spiders have eight eyes, but some species have six, four, two, and some have no eyes at all!
Common Eye Arrangements in Spiders:
Eight Eyes (Most Spiders): Found in jumping spiders, wolf spiders, orb weaving spiders and tarantulas.
Six Eyes: Found in some hermit spiders (Loxosceles), such as the brown recluse.
Four or Two Eyes: Some cave-dwelling or burrowing spiders have fewer eyes due to their dark habitat.
Eyeless: Some deep cave species are completely blind and rely on touch and vibrations to detect prey.
Eight-eyed spiders usually have two large, forward-facing main eyes for detailed vision, while the rest provide peripheral vision and motion detection. Jumping spiders have some of the best vision of all spiders.
Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are often confused with venomous or aggressive spiders because of their size and the way they hunt. But they are not dangerous to humans.
Symptoms of a Wolf Spider Bite:
Mild pain, redness and swelling.
Itching or irritation at the site of the bite.
Some individuals may experience mild allergic reactions.
Wolf spiders, black widows or brown recluse spiders do not have venom dangerous to humans. Their bites can be painful but not life-threatening. These spiders are useful for controlling insect populations.
Even though they are called flying, spiders cannot fly. Some spiders can glide by a method called ballooning.
What is ballooning?
Ballooning is the method by which spiders release their threads into the air and the wind carries them to new places. This method is often used by small species such as spiderlings and money spiders (Linyphiidae).
Some species, such as the Parachuting Spider (Selenops), can glide through the air by adjusting their legs and body so that their landing is controlled. Although they do not fly, they cover considerable distances. This gives them the advantage of escaping predators and finding new habitats.