Arthropods of the class ARACHNIDA, order Araneae. Except for mites and ticks, spiders constitute the largest order of arachnids, with approximately 37,000 species having been described. The majority of spiders are harmless, although some species can be regarded as moderately harmful since their bites can lead to quite severe local symptoms. (From Barnes, Invertebrate Zoology, 5th ed, p508; Smith, Insects and Other Arthropods of Medical Importance, 1973, pp424-430)
    

concept

A spider, both enlarged and life size. Coloured engraving.

A red water-spider (Hydrachna coccinea). Coloured engraving.

A giant spider catching crowds of humans in its web; representing tuberculosis. Colour lithograph by B. Cascella, ca. 1920.

Six insects and two spiders, including a cicada adult and nymph, a butterfly and two gnats. Gouache painting.

Allegorical figures hold up two scrolls, separated by a spider's web: one shows a straight line between "Charitas" and "Iustitia"; the other a crooked line between "Invidia" and "Avaritia". Etching by C. Murer after himself, c. 1600-1614.

A black spider's web on a black, green, blue, purple, red, orange, yellow and green rainbow ground

A natural history of spiders. And other curious insects / illustrated with fifty three copper plates, engraved by the best hands, by Eleazar Albin.

Assemblée publique de la Societé royale des sciences : tenuë dans la sale de l'hôtel-de-ville de Montpellier, le cinquiéme Decembre mil Sept cens neuf.

The life of the spider / by J. Henri Fabre ; translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos.

Dissertation sur l'utilité de la soye des araignées, en latin et en françois : à laquelle l'on a joint l'analyse chimique de cette soye, avec quelques autres piéces. Qui ont été faites à ce sujet / par Mr. Bon.

Spiders

Images

Catalogue

A black spider's web on a black, green, blue, purple, red, orange, yellow and green rainbow ground

A natural history of spiders. And other curious insects / illustrated with fifty three copper plates, engraved by the best hands, by Eleazar Albin.

Assemblée publique de la Societé royale des sciences : tenuë dans la sale de l'hôtel-de-ville de Montpellier, le cinquiéme Decembre mil Sept cens neuf.

The life of the spider / by J. Henri Fabre ; translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos.

Dissertation sur l'utilité de la soye des araignées, en latin et en françois : à laquelle l'on a joint l'analyse chimique de cette soye, avec quelques autres piéces. Qui ont été faites à ce sujet / par Mr. Bon.