1. All spiders produce silk

Something common to all 40,000 species of spiders is that they all spin silk. Spiders use their silk to travel, spin webs or to capture prey.

2. Spiders are nearsighted

Most spiders have eight eyes, but some, like the brown recluse spider, only have six. Spiders typically have a main set that can create images while the secondary sets can only detect light and shadow. It is thought that the secondary sets of eyes are derived from the compound eyes of a common ancestor to both spiders and insects.

But even with all of those eyes, spiders cannot see far into the distance. Nearsightedness is a problem for people, but the habits of spiders are such that being nearsighted isn’t a deficiency. They wait for prey to get caught in their webs and use silk trip wires to warn of approaching predators.

3. Females can lay up to 3,000 eggs at one time

Spiders eggs are housed in one or more silk sacs. The level of care a female spider provides for her young varies by species. Some females will die shortly after laying eggs while others will carry spiderlings on their backs or share prey with them.

4. Jumping spiders can jump up to 50x their own length

When threatened, jumping spiders are able to jump multiple times their body length. This is possible due to an internal hydraulic system. Jumping spiders can alter the pressure of fluids in their legs resulting in a springing motion that propels the spiders forward.

5. The ‘daddy long-legs’ you see might not actually be a spider

The nickname ‘daddy long-legs’ has been given to several different pests, only one of which is an actual spider. Only cellar spiders are spiders. Harvestmen are in the arachnid family, but they lack venom and silk glands. If you think you have a spider infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest professional to identify the species and recommend steps for removal or treatment. Some species are poisonous to humans and should be handled by a professional.