The world of the spider
(Book)

Originally published under title: The nature of spiders. Vancouver : Greystone Books, c1999.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 110) and index.

Spiders are one of the most successful groups of animals on earth. There are almost 38,000 species of spiders, and they are found in every type of environment throughout the world, including seashores, deserts, caves, and mountains. The species include the huge, hairy tarantula which lives a mostly subterranean life; the colorful crab spider, which often hides in flowers and may prey on bees or wasps; and the ubiquitous orb-weaver, which may rebuild its wheel-shaped web every evening. Besides exploring the physical characteristics and behavior of spiders, nature writer Adrienne Mason describes the role of spiders in myth and legend. She also examines how spiders are used in scientific research today and how the use of pesticides and loss of habitat are affecting them.