Spiders and insects: the representatives of phylum Arthropoda
The differences between small creatures with several pairs of legs, are reflected in the classification applied in Zoology. Insects belong to the same class of the phylum Arthropoda. Spiders belong to class Arachnida and the same types of insects. You should know that spiders are not just spiders but also ticks and Scorpions. But among these animals there is a significant difference in the body structure and behavior.
Today the world has more than forty thousand species of spiders. They can be found almost everywhere. Almost all spiders feed on other living organisms, such as insects. But even insects can be seen in all corners of the Earth. A number of them types, past the classification and described in science, is about one million.
The science that studies insects is called entomology. Arachnid is devoted to a different branch of scientific knowledge – arachnology.
Of course, both arthropods differ from one another by the structure of the internal organs. But the device of these little organisms are quite complex, so a person who is not a specialist in the field of biology, it will be difficult to understand the fundamental differences between a spider and, for example, ant. Therefore, it is safer to determine with whom you met on the forest path, the characteristic external signs.
Unlike spiders from insects
The body of any insect has three main divisions: head, thorax, and abdomen. The eyes of members of this class may be different: simple or compound. Mouthparts also comes in several forms: stabbing, gnawing or licking. One of the main characteristics of insects – three pairs of jointed legs that connect to chest. But that's not all: some insects have additional useful elements of the body – wings.
But the body of the spiders can only consist of a couple of sections of the abdomen and cephalothorax, connected by a very thin bridge. The cephalothorax is possible to notice a slight furrow, which conditionally divides this part of the body on the head and breast. The oral apparatus is located at a spider directly on the icon.
To be certain not to make a mistake, you need to count the number of legs you are interested in small animal. The spider, unlike the insect has not three, but four pairs of jointed legs.
Insects are almost omnivorous and are not particularly picky about food. They are happy to eat parts of plants, although I am not above the corpses of their relatives. Spiders are notorious predators. Certainly, many people were able to observe how well the spider weaves its lovchie networks and how patiently waiting for the next hapless victim. And often the prey of the lurking spider be harmless insects. In the fight for the right to exist, the spider usually wins.