| Many people think of bugs as insects, but the | | | | weave only her webs, and all spiders now |
| fact of the matter is that just about any | | | | carry her name. |
| small, creepy and crawly thing can be a bug. | | | | |
| Centipedes, spiders, and all sorts of insects | | | | Even though these differences between insects |
| are considered bugs. So, while an insect is | | | | and arachnids exist, there are also |
| always a bug, a bug is not always an insect. | | | | similarities. First of all, both types of |
| While the difference is not usually a matter | | | | bugs have an exoskeleton. This means that the |
| of life and death, it is still nice to know | | | | skeleton is on the outside of the body, |
| the difference between different types of | | | | rather than on the inside. Even though we as |
| bugs. For the most part, people tend to thing | | | | humans have a skeleton that protects some |
| that arachnids (spiders fall into this | | | | organs, it is still located beneath the skin. |
| category) are insects because they are also | | | | And in areas like the legs and arms, the |
| considered bugs. This is not true, however. | | | | skeleton is protected by muscles and skin. |
| There are some very real differences between | | | | With bugs, the skeleton is on the outside and |
| insects and arachnids. | | | | protects everything inside. Some have very |
| | | | hard exoskeletons, like black widows and |
| Insects have three different body regions. | | | | cockroaches. Another similarity is regarding |
| They have a head (self explanatory), a | | | | the eyes. Both insects and arachnids have |
| thorax, which is the middle section, and an | | | | multi-faceted eyes that can see in many |
| abdomen. If you look carefully at an insect, | | | | directions at once. |
| you will find that the legs of an insect | | | | |
| (insects have six legs, and six legs only - | | | | Additionally, both insects and arachnids can |
| no more and no less) are attached to the | | | | have more than just one pair of eyes. Some |
| thorax. When one looks at an insect, it is | | | | have up to six eyes or more! Additionally, |
| apparent that there are three distinct | | | | poison is not limited to just arachnids. Some |
| sections. Also, some insects (though not all) | | | | insects are poisonous (like scorpions). With |
| have wings. No arachnids have wings. | | | | all bugs, though, the potency of the poison |
| | | | varies from species to species. |
| Arachnids, on the other hand, have eight legs | | | | |
| and only two body sections: the head and the | | | | And, finally, the biggest similarity is that |
| abdomen. Arachnids get their name from an | | | | many people do not like them. Insect or |
| ancient Greek legend. It was said that Athena | | | | arachnid, there are many people who are |
| found a woman called Arachne boasting that | | | | scared of bugs. They find them alien looking |
| her weaving was better than anyone, even the | | | | and distasteful. And they have a way of |
| goddess's weaving. Greek gods and goddesses | | | | popping out unexpectedly to startle and |
| did not take well to upstart mortals, so | | | | alarm. But, for the most part, if we leave |
| Arachne was turned into a spider. She could | | | | bugs alone, they will not harm us. |