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Some general facts

• Does size really matter?
  There is no correlation between the size of the spider and the degree of venom potency.
• Venom on the medical front line...
  Components of spider venom show promise in medical research, including areas of Alzheimer's and Lou Gehring's disease and even in preventing permanent brain damage in stroke victims.
• Spiders in Flight...
  Spiderlings (young spiders) can travel great distances by "ballooning" - the process of floating on the breeze using a strand of silk.
• Greek Mythology - Where did spiders get their name?
  Arachne, daughter of Idmon of Colophon in Lydia, was a dyer in purple. She greatly skilled herself in the art of weaving, but showed poor judgement by challenging Athena, the goddess of, amongst other things, the female arts and industries. Arachne offended Athena by depicting the amorous pursuits of the gods and, Athena, outraged at the beauty and perfection of Arachne's work, tore it to pieces. In despair at the destruction of her work, Arachne hanged herself. Athena, out of remorse and pity, loosened the rope, which became a cobweb while Arachne herself changed into a spider.
• Respect your elders...
  It is said that spiders have been on planet Earth for about 500 million years, and scorpions for about 400 million years.
• Hairy for a reason...
  The different kinds of hairs found on spiders' bodies are used as sensory organs, and enable spiders to feel, hear and taste.
• Chemical receptors for taste and smell...
  Spiders have small chemical receptors on the upper side of their front legs and pedipalps, that enable them not only to taste and smell, but also react to changes in humidity and temperature.
• Are spiders dangerous?
  Of all the different spider species in South Africa, only THREE species are known to be harmful to people. Worldwide only 0.01% can be considered dangerous!
• Clever sexual habits...
  Some males wait for the female to start feeding on her prey, while other tie her down with silk before starting the act of mating!
• Longevity...
  Most spiders live for only one year, while some baboon spiders can reach ages of up to 25 years. Generally males do not live as long as females, because they have no role to play after mating!
• Survival is the name of the game...
  Spiders have the ability to lower their metabolism in order to survive long periods without food or water and to adapt to adverse climatic conditions.

Some Silky Facts...

• Bridge builders have been known to study spider webs because of the webs' remarkable ability to absorb tension.
• Black widow silk was at one time used in military gun sights because of its strength and uniform thickness.
• Spiders are the only creatures that can produce silk essentially from the time they emerge from the egg sac until the day they die.
• It has been theorized that a spider web with strands the thickness of a pencil could stop a 747 in flight.
• Scientists are researching spider silk as a possible replacement for Kevlar, the material used in bulletproof vests.
• Spider silk is the strongest natural fiber known.   It's exuded as a liquid and hardens when the spider pulls it, thus aligning the molecular structure.  It will stretch up to 1/3 of its original length without breaking.
• The average person will encounter some 50 different kinds of spiders in their lifetime.  Of those, only about a dozen are capable of piercing the skin with their fangs.

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