Spiders

The deadly mating rituals, hunting tactics, web architecture, and generally misunderstood lives of spiders.

Latest in Spiders

Two views of a slingshot spider (Theridiosoma gemmosum) web. The right image shows the web’s cone shape with a spider at the tip.

Watch a slingshot spider deploy a perfectly-timed trap Watch a slingshot spider deploy a perfectly-timed trap

By Laura Baisas

Brown tarantulas mating

Male tarantulas seek love, find death around Halloween Male tarantulas seek love, find death around Halloween

A male and a female Aphonopelma jacobii. Their small size can be seen when compared to the acorn cap, pine needles, and oak leaf.

Newly discovered tarantulas may already be in danger Newly discovered tarantulas may already be in danger

a spider traps a glowing firefly in its web

Spiders may be hacking firefly signals to trap dinner Spiders may be hacking firefly signals to trap dinner

By Laura Baisas

A colorful adult female Joro spider. These arachnids are native to parts of Southeast Asia.

No, ‘flying’ venomous spiders are not coming for you this summer No, ‘flying’ venomous spiders are not coming for you this summer

By Laura Baisas

Close-up photos of ReachBot.

Daddy long-legs-inspired robot could one day squirm through Martian caves Daddy long-legs-inspired robot could one day squirm through Martian caves

By Mack DeGeurin

A tarantula with a mostly black body, but bright blue legs and pincers. Chilobrachys natanicharum is the first tarantula species found in Thailand’s mangrove trees. CREDIT: Yuranan Nanthaisong/ZooKeys.

Meet the first electric blue tarantula known to science Meet the first electric blue tarantula known to science

By Laura Baisas

Dead humback whale on beach from aerial view

Dead whales and dinosaur eggs: 7 fascinating images by researchers Dead whales and dinosaur eggs: 7 fascinating images by researchers

By Popular Science Team

A four-legged spider mite sits on a plant.

Before spider mites mate, one of them gets their skin removed Before spider mites mate, one of them gets their skin removed

By Laura Baisas

These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct.

These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct. These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct.

By Katarina Zimmer / Undark

Siler collingwoodi is a colorful, ant-mimicking spider found in China and Japan.

This spider pretends to be an ant, but not well enough to avoid being eaten This spider pretends to be an ant, but not well enough to avoid being eaten

By Laura Baisas

An orb weaver spider spins a web in a forest.

Spider glue might evolve faster than the spiders themselves Spider glue might evolve faster than the spiders themselves

By Laura Baisas

A black widow spider side by side with a brown widow spiders, a fellow species in the same genus, Latrodectus.

Black widows battle their even deadlier cousins in a brutal spider war Black widows battle their even deadlier cousins in a brutal spider war

By Laura Baisas

Pitcher plant with two dead spotted salamanders captured for photography awards

13 otherworldly photos that were actually taken on Earth 13 otherworldly photos that were actually taken on Earth

By Popular Science Team

a black and white ghostly image of a jumping spider hanging by a thin silk strand in a sleep-like state

Jumping spiders might be able to sleep—perchance to dream Jumping spiders might be able to sleep—perchance to dream

By Lauren J. Young

two spiders entangled together mating

These male spiders fling into the air to escape post-coital cannibalism These male spiders fling into the air to escape post-coital cannibalism

By Lauren J. Young

An image of a spider web to illustrate a story about a South American species of social spiders.

These spiders go off vibes to hunt in packs These spiders go off vibes to hunt in packs

By Maggie Galloway

Light brown tarantula with white discharge around mouth being attacked by a nematode worm on a bacteria backsplash

What do you call a tiny tarantula killer? Jeff Daniels. What do you call a tiny tarantula killer? Jeff Daniels.

By Purbita Saha

Jumping spiders have a mysterious nighttime habit Jumping spiders have a mysterious nighttime habit

By Ellie Shechet

Your car is probably full of spiders Your car is probably full of spiders

By Popular Science Team