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A beautifully illustrated guide to the natural history and breathtaking diversity of spiders around the worldSpiders are dominant predators in virtually every terrestrial ecosystem on the planet. A marvel of evolution with species numbering in the tens of thousands, they have been walking the earth since before the dinosaurs. Spiders manipulate the silk strands of their webs to act as a sensory field, which vibrates across wide frequencies that they can read in detail, while young spiders spin silk lines that interact with the electrical fields in the atmosphere, enabling them to balloon across huge distances. Some spiders even gather in groups to impersonate ants in astonishing displays of collective mimicry. The Lives of Spiders explores these and other wonders, blending stunning imagery, lively writing, and the latest science to explore the natural history of the world's diverse arachnid life.Features a wealth of color illustrationsSheds invaluable light on the life history, ecology, and stunning diversity of spidersCovers silk and web building, venoms, predators and prey, mating and dancing, spider cognition, and much moreDiscusses the impacts of human activity on spiders

A charming, richly illustrated, pocket-size exploration of the world's spidersPacked with surprising facts, this delightful and gorgeously designed book will beguile any nature lover. Expertly written and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photographs and original color artwork, The Little Book of Spiders is an accessible and enjoyable mini-reference about the world's spiders, with examples drawn from across the globe. It fits an astonishing amount of information in a small package, covering a wide range of topics—from anatomy, diversity, and reproduction to habitat and conservation. It also includes curious facts and a section on spiders in myths, folklore, and modern culture from around the world. The result is an irresistible guide to the amazing lives of spiders.A beautifully designed pocket-size book with a foil-stamped cloth coverFeatures some 140 color illustrations and photosMakes a perfect gift

An encounter with a spider will never be the same again …This warm-hearted book offers fascinating science and captivating storytelling to persuade readers to fall in love with—or at least tolerate—these eight-legged wonders.Eight-Legged Wonders unveils the remarkable lives of one of the most misunderstood and maligned creatures on the planet: the spider. With over 50,000 species, spiders play vital roles in our ecosystems and the vast majority are harmless to humans. With this in mind, shouldn't we at least try to set aside our creepy-crawly associations, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for these truly wonderful beings?Eight-Legged Wonders helps us do just that. In this affectionate and surprisingly giddy ode to spiders, James O'Hanlon, a scientist and spider expert, introduces spiders that we may never have noticed before, including spiders that cosplay as ants, balloon through the air, and scuba-dive. He describes the peacock spider's colorful dances and the Portia jumping spider's cunning hunting techniques. He dispels bite concerns, highlights groundbreaking research using spiders for human benefit, and aims to shift perceptions, ultimately revealing spiders as truly remarkable beings worthy of our admiration.

There are more than 50 000 species of spiders. They surround us in our daily lives and, contrary to popular belief, the vast majority are completely harmless to humans. In Silk & Venom, James O'Hanlon takes us from his backyard to all corners of the globe (and even outer space!) to explore these fascinating creatures and show us why they're not so scary after all. You'll encounter everything from miniscule jumping spiders with super intelligence to giant tarantulas whose venom could one day save your life. Clearing up spider myths and misconceptions, James O'Hanlon introduces readers to the beauty of their lives, including remarkable hunting techniques, the fascinating engineering of spider silk and the spiders that live in extremes — from underwater to the slopes of Mount Everest.'Within the first few paragraphs, I knew that this book was going to be brilliant. With a fresh and creative approach, Silk & Venom takes away fear and instead fills the reader with amazing eight-legged tales and stories.'— Sami Bayly'A thrilling meander through lesser-known aspects of the lives of Australia's numerous and fascinating spiders, which over the years have been grossly and unfairly maligned. I for one have a new appreciation for these diminutive predators, which play a vital role in Australia's ecosystems.'— John Pickrell'If, like me, you love natural history, ALL OF NATURAL HISTORY, you'll adore James O'Hanlon's enthralling Silk & Venom. It is surprising and funny, and will make every part of the garden (and even dark crevices indoors) look so much more intriguing — and safe.'— Robyn Williams

Croyances ancestrales, récits exagérés, convictions renforcées par l'entourage familial ou professionnel, les médias, les milieux médicaux… Comment avoir les idées claires au sujet des araignées? Les rumeurs et légendes les plus incroyables courent sur ces animaux qui inspirent souvent à la fois répulsion et fascination.C'est au hasard de ses études que l'auteure a croisé le chemin des araignées et que son envie de faire découvrir leur monde fascinant et méconnu s'est progressivement développée. Ce livre offre à tous ceux qui ont certaines appréhensions face aux araignées, mais aussi à tous les passionnés de nature, l'occasion de tordre le cou aux inexactitudes et autres absurdités sur ces animaux soyeux en se mettant à leur échelle et en partageant quelques tranches de leur vie.Grâce à des argumentaires scientifiques solides mais accessibles au plus grand nombre, l'auteure présente ici 50 idées fausses sur les araignées sous forme de fiches richement illustrées.Cette nouvelle édition s'enrichit d'encadrés supplémentaires, démystifiant nos idées fausses sur les araignées, ainsi que d'idées vraies pour en apprendre encore davantage sur ces surprenantes prédatrices.Consulter la préface de Mathieu Vidard, animateur et producteur de radio et de télévision

All You Need to Know About SpidersSpiders are super predators and devour everything they can overpower. To do this, they have developed incredibly good catching techniques and, with spider silk, a tool that makes material technology green with envy. The males are usually smaller than the females and, in order to have sex, they have to come up with a lot to avoid being misunderstood as easy prey: Dancing, drumming, and gifts almost always help. Spiders use their venom in very precise doses, and since humans are not on their menu, they are harmless to us. Many people's (unnecessary) fear of spiders finds cultural roots as early as the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, spider fear is easily treatable. There is no habitat or building without spiders. And that's a good thing, because spiders have fascinating properties and their world is full of surprises. Everything you need to know about them is explained in this book in understandable language by experts for laymen. In addition, some of the most common spider species in the house and garden are briefly presented with tips for observation. The authorsThis book is authored by eight scientists, all of them members of the Association for the Promotion of Spider Research: Wolfgang Nentwig, Jutta Ansorg, Angelo Bolzern, Holger Frick, Anne-Sarah Ganske, Ambros Hänggi, Christin Kropf und Anna Stäubli

A stunningly illustrated natural history of spidersSpiders are among the most versatile creatures on the planet, inhabiting six of the seven continents and thriving in environments ranging from deserts and rain forests to Arctic tundra and cities. Spiders of the World is a captivating look at these wondrously adaptable and endlessly intriguing arachnids, written by six of the world's leading experts on spiders. This stunningly illustrated natural history features a wealth of spectacular color photos and covers a breathtaking array of spider species from around the globe, describing their behaviors, characteristics, and remarkable evolutionary adaptations. An incisive and engaging introduction provides an invaluable overview of the world's spiders, and is followed by in-depth profiles spanning more than 100 spider families and presented taxonomically. Each profile is organized phylogenetically and includes beautiful photography to illustrate various species within the family. There are also distribution maps, tables of essential facts, and commentaries highlighting diverse aspects of spider biology, making Spiders of the World an indispensable volume for anyone who wants to learn more about these marvelous creatures.Provides a richly illustrated look at spiders of all shapes and sizes from around the worldFeatures hundreds of color photos and diagramsSpans more than 100 spider families and covers an array of different speciesExplores spider behavior, attributes, biology, and evolutionIncludes distribution maps, tables of essential facts, informative commentaries, and moreEngages and educates readers about the unique natural history of spiders

Croyances ancestrales, récits exagérés, convictions renforcées par l'entourage familial ou professionnel, les médias, les milieux médicaux… Comment avoir les idées claires au sujet des araignées? Les rumeurs et légendes les plus incroyables courent sur ces animaux qui inspirent souvent à la fois répulsion et fascination.C'est au hasard de ses études que l'auteure a croisé le chemin des araignées et que son envie de faire découvrir leur monde fascinant et méconnu s'est progressivement développée. Ce livre offre à tous ceux qui ont certaines appréhensions face aux araignées, mais aussi à tous les passionnés de nature, l'occasion de tordre le cou aux inexactitudes et autres absurdités sur ces animaux soyeux en se mettant à leur échelle et en partageant quelques tranches de leur vie.Grâce à des argumentaires scientifiques solides mais accessibles au plus grand nombre, l'auteure présente ici 50 idées fausses sur les araignées sous forme de fiches richement illustrées.Consulter la préface de Mathieu Vidard, animateur et producteur de radio et de télévision

This book for children about insects and spiders is the perfect companion for young minds eager to learn about the amazing world of bugs.Children are encouraged to investigate and record all the creepy crawlies they find as well as to get involved in hands-on activities, from making their own'pooter'to collect insects to building an ant farm.With a mix of fantastic photographs and beautiful illustrations, Insects and Spiders takes you through everything you need to know about these bewildering bugs. Learn what termites build their nests from, how an earwig looks after her eggs, and why wasps have black and yellow stripes.

Skeptical readers may not think a spider could take down and eat a bird, but this book certainly proves it. These menacing monsters stalk their flying prey, though they mostly stick to insects and other, easier-to-hunt victims. One of the most amazing things readers discover about this fierce predator is that—much like other scary, hairy tarantulas—they're mostly harmless to humans! Bird-eating spiders will only bite when they're scared or feel they're under attack, and it's only as bad as a wasp sting!

Que d'idées reçues sur le monde méconnu des araignées! Ces animaux à huit pattes, pourtant si fascinants dans leurs modes de vie, méritent mieux que la crainte qu'ils suscitent dans l'esprit de bon nombre d'entre nous. Une peur dont on ne connaît pas vraiment l'origine. Avez-vous réellement pris le temps de les observer attentivement et de connaître leur histoire?De nombreuses araignées arborent des couleurs étonnantes et certaines en changent même rapidement selon la fleur qui les accueille. Pour séduire, les mâles sont plutôt doués : ils chantent, dansent, se parfument ou offrent des gourmandises.Quant aux araignées de petite taille, jeunes et adultes, elles sont capables de parcourir des dizaines de kilomètres entraînées par leur fil au gré du vent alors que d'autres vont préférer la course, le saut ou même la nage...En se mettant dans la peau d'une araignée, tout curieux de nature peut ici approcher cet univers soyeux hors du commun peuplé d'êtres vivants à la diversité insoupçonnée tant par l'aspect, les techniques de chasse, que par les soins apportés à la descendance ou encore leur capacité à produire cette soie si convoitée par les biotechnologies. Indispensables à l'équilibre écologique par leur rôle de prédateur, les araignées forment un maillon essentiel de la pyramide alimentaire. Et pour l'homme, sont-elles vraiment dangereuses? Comment ces animaux sont-ils perçus à travers le monde? Quels pouvoirs, quelles qualités leur attribue-t-on? Que de contes et légendes les évoquent dans de nombreuses cultures!

Fabre had many scholarly achievements. He was a popular teacher, physicist, chemist and botanist. However, he is probably best known for his findings in the field of entomology, the study of insects, and is considered by many to be the father of modern entomology.

Not many years ago the group Insecta was held even by Zoologists to include numberless small creatures—centipedes, spiders, mites, etc.—which further study has shown to present essential differences of structure, and in popular language any fairly minute animal is still an insect, just as any insect is popularly a “fly”—or, in the United States, a “bug.” Scientifically the use of the term Insect is now much restricted, though still extensive enough in all conscience, since it includes many more than a quarter of a million known species. Zoologists recognise a large group of animals characterised by having no internal skeleton but a more or less firm external coating of a peculiar substance called chitin, often strengthened by calcareous deposits, which necessitates the presence of joints in their bodies, and especially in their limbs if they are to move freely, just as medieval suits of armour required to be jointed. These are the Arthropoda. One subdivision of this group consists of aquatic animals, breathing by gills, and known as Crustacea. Crabs, lobsters, shrimps and “water-fleas” are familiar examples, and with the exception of the so-called land-crabs the only Crustaceans habitually found on land are wood-lice. The other Arthropoda are air-breathing, and since their characteristic breathing organs are branching tubes known as tracheae, the term Tracheata is sometimes used to include them all. They fall naturally into three divisions, the Myriapoda, the Insecta and the Arachnida, and it is in this last-named division that we shall find the spiders. The Myriapoda are the centipedes and millipedes, and having said this we may dismiss them, for insects and arachnids are strictly limited as to legs; and no myriapod can ever be mistaken for a spider. The Arachnida are so varied in structure that it is not easy to give characteristics common to them all, and to any general statement there are bound to be exceptions, but for practical purposes it may be said that while an insect, when mature, has only six legs, and a pair of feelers or antennae of quite different structure, Arachnids have normally eight legs, and their feeling organs are not antennae but leg-like “pedipalps.”

Weaving webs, digging burrows, and floating on strands of silk—spiders are fascinating creatures! From tiny baby spiderlings to large tarantulas, nonfiction master Gail Gibbons'introduction to these intriguing arachnids reminds us that even when they look scary, most spiders are harmless—and even helpful! There are over thirty thousand kinds of spiders in the world—small and large, colorful or gray—and they live, hunt, and adapt in different ways. A number of different species and spider behaviors are highlighted in this book, accompanied by clear, labeled illustrations and important vocabulary. Filled with interesting trivia and information on the history of spiders, as well as an explanation of the difference between spiders and insects, this is a great introduction that takes the fear out of our eight-legged, web-spinning friends.

With over 40,000 described species, spiders have adapted to nearly every terrestrial environment across the globe. Over half of the world's spider families live within the three contiguous Pacific Coast states—not surprising considering the wide variety of habitats, from mountain meadows and desert dunes to redwood forests and massive urban centers. This beautifully illustrated, accessible guide covers all of the families and many of the genera found along the Pacific Coast, including introduced species and common garden spiders. The author provides readers with tools for identifying many of the region's spiders to family, and when possible, genus and species. He discusses taxonomy, distribution, and natural history as well as what is known of the habits of the spiders, the characters of families, and references to taxonomic revisions of the pertinent genera. Full-color plates for each family bring to life the incredible diversity of this ancient arachnid order.

'I have never warmed much to spiders... [they] are too creepy... Well, I'm wrong and this book has changed my mind. Spiders are tops.... One is tempted to think there is no such thing as a dull spider.'-- British Wildlife'The hair-raising factor will attract even arachnophobic teens.'-- Booklist Spiders provides information on habitat, hunting techniques, anatomy, general characteristics and location of spiders, the most successful of all terrestrial predators in the world. Stephen Dalton has chosen to focus on spiders'hunting methods and provides fascinating information on the astonishing array of techniques spiders use for catching their prey: trapping in webs, lassoing, jumping, stealing, chasing, ambushing, spitting, fishing, masquerading as other animals and even attracting prey by mimicking the prey's pheromones. The spiders are grouped by their method of hunting: Nocturnal hunters Trappers: orderly webs Daylight: visual hunters Trappers: disorderly webs Jumping spiders Tunnel-web builders Ambushers and lurkers Nonconformists. Dalton's spectacular photographs are extraordinary in their detail, and some of them document spider behavior never recorded previously. He also gives expert guidance on photographing spiders.

Fabre had many scholarly achievements. He was a popular teacher, physicist, chemist, and botanist. However, he is probably best known for his findings in the field of entomology, the study of insects, and is considered by many to be the father of modern entomology.

One of the only books to treat the whole spider, from its behavior and physiology to its neurobiology and reproductive characteristics, Biology of Spiders is considered a classic in spider literature. First published in German in 1979, the book is now in its third edition, and has established itself as the supreme authority on these fascinating creatures. Containing five hundred new references, this book incorporates the latest research while dispelling many oft-heard myths and misconceptions that surround spiders. Of special interest are chapters on the structure and function of spider webs and silk, as well as those on spider venom. A new subchapter on tarantulas will appeal especially to tarantula keepers and breeders. The highly accessible text is supplemented by exceptional, high-quality photographs, many of them originals, and detailed diagrams. It will be of interest to arachnologists, entomologists, and zoologists, as well as to academics, students of biology, and the general reader curious about spiders.

Spiders are often underestimated as suitable behavioural models because of the general belief that due to their small brains their behaviour is innate and mostly invariable. Challenging this assumption, this fascinating book shows that rather than having a limited behavioural repertoire, spiders show surprising cognitive abilities, changing their behaviour to suit their situational needs. The team of authors unravels the considerable intra-specific as well as intra-individual variability and plasticity in different behaviours ranging from foraging and web building to communication and courtship. An introductory chapter on spider biology, systematics and evolution provides the reader with the necessary background information to understand the discussed behaviours and helps to place them into an evolutionary context. Highlighting an under-explored area of behaviour, this book will provide new ideas for behavioural researchers and students unfamiliar with spiders as well as a valuable resource for those already working in this intriguing field.

Children reach an age when suddenly they want to simply learn. Everywhere they look it's'how,''why,''where,''what.'Studies suggest that between the ages of 4 and 7, children's brains are the most like sponges, absorbing information at an extraordinary rate. Children at this age have grown out of flaps and other novelties and are perhaps only just learning to read-they need a range of books covering a lots of topics that suit this pre-reading and early-reading level.At preschool the emphasis is on play, going on to learning how to read and write, so home is where their interests can be really indulged. This is an age where learning is pure fun so the titles of the books reflect this. The First Facts books are small springboards that eventually lead onto a bigger picture.

Both fascinating and frightening, the spider has a rich symbolic presence in the imagination. At once a representative of death, due to its fangs and dangerous poison, the spider can also represent life and creation, because of its intricate web and females who carry sacs of thousands of tiny eggs. In this wide-ranging book, Katarzyna and Sergiusz Michalskiinvestigate the natural history and cultural significance of the spider. From ancient Greek myth to Dostoyevsky, the authors explore the appearance of spiders in literature and their depictions in art, paying particular attention to the sculptures of Louise Bourgeois. Horror stories, science fiction, folklore, and children's tales are also investigated, as well as the affliction of arachnophobia and the procedures used to cure it. The association of the spider with women or mothers is explored alongside the role of the spider metaphor in Freudian and Jungian psychoanalysis, and the Michalskis'in-depth account concludes with a look at the unfavorable portrayal of the sinister spider in film. A thorough and engaging look at the natural and cultural history of the spider, this book will appeal to anybody who admires or fears this delicate yet dangerous creature.

The Life of the Spider is a volume in Jean-Henri Fabre's'Souvenirs Entomologiques', in which he shares fifty years of careful observation. He re-acquaints us with the most everyday insects, inspiring a new interest, awareness and understanding in the reader. This volume concerns spiders.