Biting Insects May Have Killed Off Dinosaurs Jan 8, 2008
A new book argues that the demise of the dinosaurs was due not to an asteroid impact, nor massive volcanic eruptions in India, but instead to tiny biting disease-spreading insects and arachnids mosquitoes, mites, ticks and biting flies. "There are serious problems with the sudden-impact theories of dinosaur extinction, not the least of which is that dinosaurs declined and disappeared over a period of hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years," entomologist George O. Poinar, Jr., said in a... (Fox News)
UAF student known for her work on Alaska's spiders Dec 30, 2007
UAF student nationally known for her work on Alaska's arachnids ... The thought of the little arachnids crawling out of the shadows sent chills chasing across her skin. (Anchorage Daily News)
Movies year in review: Dark themes shine a beacon of light Dec 28, 2007
But beyond the buccaneers, arachnids and ogres, the movie year also unearthed smaller gems, many of which delved into darker themes. USA TODAY takes stock of the year in film. (USA Today -- Life)
Peter Chianca: More things to be thankful for Dec 19, 2007
The spiders in your neighborhood aren t banding together to build a giant web, like they did recently in Texas, where the usually independent arachnids worked together to create a web that could, with relative ease, snare a Humvee. Some entomologists think it might be a fluke, but on the other hand, they probably never saw Kingdom of the Spiders (1977), starting William Shatner. (Wakefield Observer, MA)
Furry, OK, but cute?Tarantulas: Not menacing and downright lovable, aficionados say Dec 8, 2007
(Despite Sundin's title, tarantulas are arachnids. . (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Spiders use stripes to lure prey Nov 27, 2007
The discovery by Dr I-Min Tso and colleagues at Taiwan's Tunghai University helps explains why arachnids, like the giant wood spider and the orchid spider, eat large amounts of carefully wrapped prey on their webs just before sunrise. It also suggests that entomologists may have underestimated the activities of some spiders when darkness falls. (India Times, India -- Health/Science)
Ancient sea scorpion as big as human Nov 24, 2007
Eurypterids, or ancient sea scorpions, are believed to be the extinct aquatic ancestors of today's scorpions and possibly all arachnids, a class of joint-legged, invertebrate animals, including spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks. Braddy said the fossil was from a Jaekelopterus Rhenaniae, a kind of scorpion that lived only in Germany for about 10 million years, about 400 million years ago. (CNN -- Tech)
Giant scorpion of the sea discovered Nov 23, 2007
These sea scorpions are thought to be the aquatic "sisters" of scorpions, and possibly all arachnids, including spiders. The findings were reported online yesterday in a paper published by the Royal Society's Biology Letters, which outlined theories about why giant arthropods evolved. (The Age)
Giant Fossil Sea Scorpion Bigger Than Man Nov 22, 2007
Eurypterids are believed to be the extinct aquatic ancestors of scorpions and possibly all arachnids. Some geologists believe that giant arthropods evolved due to higher levels of oxygen in the atmosphere in the past. (Science Daily)
Man-sized sea scorpion claw found Nov 21, 2007
The eurypterids are believed to be the extinct aquatic ancestors of modern land scorpions and possibly all arachnids (the class of animals that also includes spiders). "The biggest scorpion today is nearly 30cm so that shows you how big this creature was," said Dr Simon Braddy from the University of Bristol, UK.. (BBC News)
Tiny spider 'digitally dissected' Oct 30, 2007
Dr Penney is renowned for his expertise on arachnids, especially amber-trapped ones. He is currently studying spiders in a "living laboratory" in the African jungle. (BBC News -- UK)
More of this story Sep 29, 2007
They were brought to their new home by Brent Karner, known as the NHM's "bug guy." There are also more exotic arachnids, including a giant wood spider from Southeast Asia. None of the free-range spiders are poisonous, but there are tarantulas inside a locked case that would cause genuine fright if they escaped - in particular the one as big as your head. (Los Angeles Downtown News, CA)
I-Team: Giant Spiders Invade Nevada... Sort Of Sep 26, 2007
It's as if a B-movie director put out a casting call for large, nasty looking arachnids, miles and miles, thick with webs and spiders, packed together and ready to pounce. Jeff Knight, a Nevada entomologist said, "136 Insect and arachnid populations go through booms and busts, and it's all dependent on food source and climate. Apparently on the west side of Walker Lake, everything falls together for these larger predators.". (KLAS-TV.com, NV)
Enormous Spider Web Found In Texas Sep 14, 2007
Spiders, like mites and scorpions, are arachnids, a group of arthropods with four pairs of legs, saclike lungs and a body divided into two segments. So popular was the monster Lake Tawakoni spider web phenomenon that it ran as the lead story in the Nation section of the Aug. 31 New York Times, and was the newspaper s most e-mailed article that day. (Science Daily)
'Maggot Art' Offers Children Colorful Lesson In Entomology Sep 13, 2007
Schofield opened her lesson with a discussion about arthropods, a group of animals that includes insects, arachnids and crustaceans. She introduced the class to Trixie, her pet tarantula, and described the difference between harmful centipedes and pet-worthy millipedes. (Science Daily)
T-Rex's New Website Develops Quality, Captive Reptile Care, Reports Cuker Design Sep 11, 2007
Vivarium Foam Systems and Aquarium Foam Systems which were launched August 18th and 19th at the annual Reptile Breeders Expo, are designed with the well-being of the animals in mind; the terrarium backgrounds and environmental enrichment products replicate the real life habitats of amphibians, arachnids, lizards and fish, making them feel more at home in a human's home. The avant-guard line of T-Rex products play host to a number of caverns, ridges, beaches, hollows and rapids to comfortably... (Primezone Releases)
Leaching lime a sign of water in bricks Sep 10, 2007
The spiders will not like it, but like most insects and arachnids (which spiders are), they will always come back to confound the believers and eat the bugs ... There are ultrasound devices for use against insects and arachnids, but they are not very effective outdoors. (Boston Globe)
Giant Spider Web Envelops Texas Park Sep 1, 2007
Spider experts say the web may have been constructed by social cobweb spiders, which work together, or could be the result of a mass dispersal in which the arachnids spin webs to spread out from one another. "I've been hearing from entomologists from Ohio, Kansas, British Columbia - all over the place," said Mike Quinn, an invertebrate biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department who first posted photos online. (CBS News)
This Weekend Aug 31, 2007
For more information, call Wildlife West at 281-7655 or visit Learn About Bugs At Sandia Center The final installment of the First Saturday Series at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center will be Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme will be "Insects, Arthropods and Arachnids." Visitors will search for and identify the creepy, crawly bugs at the center. The environmental education center will also feature self-guided hikes, two hands-on exhibit rooms and a bird-viewing deck. (Cedar Crest East Mountain Telegraph, NM)
Water Spider Spins Its Own "Scuba Tank" Aug 29, 2007
Since the small brown arachnids are air breathers, they have adapted the air bell system to gather oxygen from the atmosphere. . (National Geographic)
Television movies for the week of August 26 Aug 26, 2007
Two children must stop an army of arachnids ... Deadly arachnids terrorize a group of friends in the jungle ... A young couple discovers that a mad doctor is breeding giant arachnids aboard a ship. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Santa Rosa sets policy on animals at schools Aug 25, 2007
Wildlife animals, psittacine birds, amphibians and nonvenomous reptiles, and venomous snakes, insects, arachnids and stinging, toxin-excreting fish cannot be brought onto school property unless with a licensed professional. "These guidelines do not apply to animals trained as therapy-assisted pets or those trained to assist the blind, provided the animal is with that person," Retherford said. (Pensacola News Journal)
‘Part of our lives’ Aug 6, 2007
While Berger is cautious around the arachnids, he is not afraid of them and believes the fear of tarantulas is completely unwarranted. There seems to be quite a bad stigma with these spiders, he said. (Logan Herald Journal, UT)
Chitin From Lobster Shell Shows Great Healing And Bio-stimulant Properties Jul 17, 2007
Only cellulose is more abundant than chitin, which makes this compound a highly important renewable resource that can easily be found in arthropods, insects, arachnids, molluscs, fungus and algae. The fishing industry in Cuba generates great amounts of lobster waste, a pollutant rich in proteins and chitin , states Professor Carlos Andr;s Peniche Covas, head of the Biopolymers Research Group, from the Biomaterials Centre of the University of Havana. (Science Daily)
Flood triggers spider explosion Jul 16, 2007
"It's amazing stuff that is always a moisture-triggered event, and I would love to be down there to see it directly,'' he said. Arachnids from up to five families, including money spiders, wolf spiders, water spiders, crab spiders and orb-weaving spiders are in a spin, producing silk, which catches the breeze and lifts them into the air. "They are remarkable animals and they can get up into the stratosphere higher than planes,'' Dr Raven said. But when the air gets heavy, the web drops and they... (Sydney Morning Herald)
North San Diego County Community News Briefs: Women's business clothes needed Jul 3, 2007
11 a.m. July 14, "Darwin's Animal Program," an educational program about animals, reptiles and arachnids. 1 p.m. July 21, Paulani's Hula Show. (North County Times)
BioBlitz uncovers new type of mite Jun 18, 2007
The new species of mite was found by Cheol-Min Kim, an adjunct professor in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology who specializes in acarology, which is the study of the subgroup of arachnids that includes mites and ticks. "The thing that is so great about BioBlitz is that so many scientist that are experts in their field come," Dave Wagner, a professor of evolutionary biology at UConn and lead scientist of the BioBlitz. (Middletown Press, CT)
Exotic pets require extra effort from humane societies Jun 5, 2007
The arachnids are one exotic pet that many don't want to deal with -- including many of the staff and volunteers at the Humane Society, where Howard is director as well. "For (tarantulas) to remain friendly, they have to be handled daily," Howard said as Miss Gray, the spider discovered at the house on Crabtree Court, stretched a spindly leg toward her finger. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Good Question: Why Are There So Many Ticks In MN? May 17, 2007
Most have eight legs and since they can't fly they are considered arachnids. They have more in common with spiders than other bugs. (WCCO.com, MN)
Alert over rise of 'killer' ticks in Scottish cities May 11, 2007
" Related topic http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=52 This article: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=729272007 Last updated: 10-May-07 00:21 BST Comments Wini, England / 12:39am 11 May 2007 Yes, I'm afraid that the Thatcherite bloodsucking Tories (Ticks) are getting in everywhere. The Hide and Seek Champion / 1:26am 11 May 2007 They're commonly found in clocks too but that's not mentioned on the official website . Nomatter, I'll tuck my trousers into my socks when I'm winding mines... (Scotsman)
Everything Spider-Man May 4, 2007
He uses computer graphics of spiders to gradually expose the phobic patients to the feared arachnids. The results for many people have been remarkable within just a few sessions, he says. (Connellsville Daily Courier)
Does Spider-Man stack up to the real thing? May 2, 2007
The web's the thing for real and fictional arachnids. Current Biology Magazine / Gat ESpider silks, as seen in this wagon-wheel shaped net, are stronger than bullet-proof Kevlar and more elastic than nylon. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Garden Birds and Transition Zones Apr 21, 2007
If you succeed in establishing a healthy ecosystem, the beneficial insects, arachnids and other invertebrates, and of course the birds, will keep insect pests in check, and you will be able to relax and enjoy the abundance of life in your garden transition zone. Other articles about backyard bird habitat. (Suite101.com)
* World News Quick Take Apr 13, 2007
Among the spiders beings studied are the black widow, the female spider who is known for sometimes eating her mate after copulation, as well as two other arachnids that can be found in Africa and South America, it said. The research is being carried out by the urology department at Rambam Hospital in the northern city of Haifa. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Tiny sushi bar at Grand Cypress is home to big talent Mar 17, 2007
-- will likely know what goes in most of the rolls, but I wonder if a novice might be horrified at a listing that reads simply spider roll, not knowing that it contains cooked soft shell crab and no arachnids. There also was no nitroglycerine in the dynamite roll that I ordered, but it did have an explosion of heat thanks to an ample layering of hot wasabi paste rolled up with chunks of tuna and fish eggs that added a little extra pop.. (Orlando Sentinel -- Entertainment)
Chiggers Parasitic Mites Mar 16, 2007
Like spiders and scorpions, mites are arachnids; adults have four pairs of legs. The adults of the various chiggers feed on invertebrates (worms, snails etc. (Suite101.com)
ShoWest delivers awards, previews summer of sequels Mar 16, 2007
Universal built a mock prehistoric theme park inside a hotel ballroom to introduce theater owners to "Jurassic Park." John Williams led the Las Vegas Philharmonic to herald the return of "Star Wars." Dancers costumed as arachnids dangled from a showroom ceiling to promote "Spider-Man 2.". And such box-office behemoths as Harrison Ford, Will Smith, Julia Roberts and future Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger dutifully attended ShoWest year after year to thank theater owners and lead the cheers for... (Las Vegas Review-Journal -- Nevada News)
Eye on Auraria Mar 15, 2007
Spiders, which are not insects but arachnids, are also a popular garden helper as they feed on lots of other bugs, but never on plants. But bugs don't just keep other pests away; they can help pollinate plants, and the Denver Botanic Gardens will have a swarm of educational opportunities to learn more about insect-plant relations (which are better than Israeli-Palestinian relations right now). (UCD Advocate, CO)
A Rarity Among Arachnids, Whip Spiders Have A Sociable Family Life Mar 14, 2007
This is surprising behavior for these arachnids, long-thought to be purely aggressive and anti-social, according to a Cornell researcher. Social behavior is extremely rare in arachnids, a class that includes spiders, amblypygids, scorpions and mites, among others; only 76 (or less than 0 ... While sharing prey is an advantage for other arachnids with social tendencies, Rayor said she has yet to witness amblypygids intentionally sharing prey. (Science Daily)
Spinning A New Silk Feb 12, 2007
" Spinning artificial spider silk has been an engineering dream for decades. One of nature's most robust materials - by weight, stronger than steel - silk can withstand tremendous stresses without breaking. Web silk also is insoluble in water, resistant to bacteria and chemically non-reactive. The MIT team hopes to replicate in a short time what spiders have developed over 350 million years. A clue is understanding the chemistry of spider silk polymers - compounds made up of smaller but... (Tampa Bay Online, FL -- News)
Connecticut AP Enterprise Digest Jan 26, 2007
STAMFORD _ David Tovar passed a bag of plastic insects around a classroom last week, watching as Japanese beetles, ladybugs and arachnids piled up on his students' desks. "La hormiga, in Spanish," Tovar said, twirling a plastic bug in the air. (Newsday -- State)
'Lost Planet: Extreme Condition' Jan 25, 2007
We thought we'd seen the last of those abhorrent arachnids when we moved back to the 'Burg. But now it looks like their seriously bulked-up offspring have found a new world to infest and ravage, and it's as pleasing as ever to obliterate them. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Fear no weevil: Classes bridge language barrier Jan 23, 2007
By Alison Damast Staff Writer Published January 23 2007 STAMFORD - David Tovar passed a bag of plastic insects around a classroom last week, watching as Japanese beetles, ladybugs and arachnids piled up on his students' desks. "La hormiga, in Spanish," Tovar said, twirling a plastic bug in the air. (Stamford Advocate)
Survival of the fittest Jan 17, 2007
For instance, in March they are planning to open a special exhibit called Bugmania that will feature all kinds of exotic insects and arachnids, such as scorpions and tarantulas. And later this year zoo officials are hoping to add a couple of endangered Tasmanian devils to the collection as part of a special conservation program. (San Antonio Business Journal, TX)
First glimpse Dec 29, 2006
But the new Madagascar arachnids, about one-eighth-inch long, live in cooperative family groups of about 16 members. When a hapless victim blunders in the web, multiple members of the colony use their hind legs to comb silk over the prey. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
The Real Lost World Dec 4, 2006
Rick West is an authority on tarantulas and he is so keen on the hairy arachnids that he has over 300 in his basement and several named after him. Addressing the issue of animals not yet recognized by science is Dean Harrison, renowned crypto-zoologist. (Suite101.com)
Human Taste For Rarity Spells Disaster For Endangered Species Nov 29, 2006
The exotic pet trade continues to threaten orangutans, monkeys, reptiles, birds, and wild cats, as well as a wide variety of arachnids, insects, and fish. And it appears that pet trade dealers read the scientific literature for clues to the next hot species: immediately after an article recognized the small Indonesian turtle (Chelodina mccordi) and Chinese gecko (Goniurosaurus luii) as rarities, their prices soared. (Science Daily)
Mohawk students, families build insects Oct 27, 2006
Primarily through the use of books, students learned how to determine the difference between insects and arachnids, they learned where certain insects live, how they live and what they do. The culmination of the study involved each student, with the help of their families, building a detailed model of the insect of their choice, said fourth grade teacher Jeanne Slopnick. (Herkimer Eening Telegram, NY)
WonderQuest: What animal chews with its feet? A crabby answer Oct 24, 2006
Its closest living relative group is the arachnids (spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks). Primitive and successful, the horseshoe crab's anatomy is largely unchanged in 250 million years since trilobites roamed the Earth well before the super-continent Pangaea broke into today's continents. (USA Today -- Tech)
Why is spider silk so strong? Oct 16, 2006
Some researchers have thus posited that the arachnids use only these strands when navigating their webs. If you watch them in action, however, you see will see that although they do seem to prefer the non-sticky strands, the spiders are able to move around freely, touching many of the strands, including the very sticky ones that spiral out from the hub. (Scientific American)
Tarantulas out in force, on the make Oct 16, 2006
With mating season here, Mount Diablo State Park and other dry, inland areas are awash in amorous arachnids searching for love, or what passes for it among spiders ... The hairy arachnids are found in the warmest, driest regions of the Bay Area, but the most common places to see them are Mount Diablo and Henry W. Coe state parks and on Mount Hamilton. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Jurassic Marine Graveyard Yields 'Monster' Fossil Oct 8, 2006
News for nerds, stuff that matters. Jurassic Marine Graveyard Yields 'Monster' Fossil. (Slashdot)
Alien invadersAll bugs in Britain are boring, yes? Not all of them Oct 4, 2006
" Unexpected 'bargains' A beneficiary is the daddy-longlegs spider, Pholcus phalangioides, (not to be confused with crane flies, also known as daddy-longlegs). Once a rare sight on the southern coast, it is now widespread in south-east homes. Of course, you'd think the English Channel would be a natural barrier to the northern march of Europe's insects - and it is - but international trade and our jet-set lifestyles offer these interlopers a toll-free bridge. Wasp spiders are pushing north from... (BBC News -- Science)
Tarantulas Spin Silk From Their Feet, Study Finds Sep 28, 2006
These tethers allow the arachnids to scale vertical surfaces ... "We know that all the extremities of ancestor arachnids probably had this possibility to adhere during locomotion, for example, or during prey capture.". (National Geographic)
UAF researcher finds new species of Alaska arachnid Sep 14, 2006
There are several thousand species of the crab-like, fat-bottomed arachnids worldwide but few in Alaska ... Bowser said the easiest way to identify many arachnids is by the genitals, and when he cut one open to get at the penis, he noticed it was different, with hairs growing in a direction he hadn't seen before. (Anchorage Daily News)
Student says he's found spider species Sep 14, 2006
Bowser said the easiest way to identify many arachnids is by the genitals. When he cut one of the spiders open, he noticed hairs growing in a direction he had not seen before. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Spider Webs On Playhouse Extend For Stories Sep 7, 2006
Most staffers aren't bothered by the arachnids, but one staffer is keeping them out of sight by putting Post-it notes on the window of her third-story office. When the spiders move, so do the Post-its, Bahan said. (KIRO TV, WA)
At Home With Spiders Sep 4, 2006
" They don't build webs, because they don't need to. True to their name, they are quick runners, and can easily overtake roaches, crickets, flies and other insects, pouncing on them like a wolf. Like all spiders, the wolf can't chew its meal. Instead, it paralyzes its prey by injecting venom through its fangs. An enzyme then breaks down the insect's tissues, and the spider uses its sucking stomach to ingest a liquefied meal. Wolf spiders also are a maternal bunch. After hatching, the young... (Tampa Bay Online, FL -- News)
Steady rain brings breed of spider that's lovely, harmless and all over Aug 28, 2006
A summer like this one -- with plenty of moisture and surges in moth and fly populations -- is perfect for several species of orb weavers, nonpoisonous arachnids noted for their classic, wheel-shaped webs and, at least where females are concerned, seriously juicy posteriors. Bug experts say the steady rains have driven the spiders from their usual homes, often in raspberry bushes and other greenery. (Anchorage Daily News)
Scorpions found near Roxie area Aug 12, 2006
She said she started seeing the arachnids when she first moved into her house in the mid 1990s ... Grennell said he did not know how the arachnids got to the area, but he had a few guesses. (Natchez Democrat, MS)
Snake, Lizard Show Highlights Summer Reading Program Aug 4, 2006
Her love of snakes, lizards and arachnids has been a lifelong passion taking up much of her personal time. Ten years ago that passion turned into a dream as well as a part-time business for Lori Penrod known to local children as the Snake Lady or Reptile Lady. (Fulton County News, PA)
Gene Breakthrough Heralds Better Prospect For Malaria Solution Jul 26, 2006
-- Tick is the common name for the small arachnids that, along with mites, constitute the order Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites (external parasites), living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals. (Science Daily)
Velvet Worm Brains Reveal Secret Sisterhood With Spiders Jul 26, 2006
-- Arthropods (phylum Arthropoda) are the largest phylum of animals and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and. . (Science Daily)
Conservationists: Celebrate, don't just worry about, the environment Jul 24, 2006
The myriad threats to our environment may have seemed vague to the 5, 6, and 7-year-olds in my class, but the children were passionate about studying insects, arachnids, and birds. Their sense of wonder about nature was reflected by their curiosity. (Christian Science Monitor)
Horticulture Jul 20, 2006
The spiders that form those webs on the house are actually beneficial arachnids. They catch and feed on a wide variety of insects including flies and mosquitoes. (Marshall County Journal, SD)
