Tarantulas are not very abundant in Missouri but are occasionally collected from the southern part of the state. These groups are distinguished by the size and shape of their bodies, the structure of the legs and other appendages, and the size and relative position of the eyes.
Some of the more common groups include orb weavers, crab spiders, jumping spiders and wolf spiders. More than 300 different spiders occur in Missouri. Silk is used by spiders to make webs, construct egg sacs, line nests, wrap captured prey, or construct 'balloons' with which to travel on air currents over large distances. These structures are used to produce silk. (See above.) Spinnerets are located on the posterior tip of the abdomen. Also located at the front of the cephalothorax are the pedipalps, appendages used for handling food. Four, six or eight eyes are located at the front of the cephalothorax. They have eight legs, no antennae or wings, and an unsegmented abdomen. Spiders have a body composed of two regions called the cephalothorax (head) and abdomen (body). They are most closely related to scorpions, ticks and mites. Spiders belong to the order Araneae of the class Arachnida. Your browser does not support the video tag.
