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