These 6 spinnerets allow the spider to produce silk throughout their entire life while only a few insects can produce silk and only during specific life stages. Spiders have unique mouthparts comprised of chelicerae, or jaws, that end in fangs. Although most spiders are venomous, they are harmless to humans with a few exceptions the black widow and the brown recluse being the most common. The venom produced by spiders is used to paralyze and kill their prey. People often mistakenly blame spiders for bites caused by fleas, ticks, or mites.
Most spiders don t possess the mouthparts capable of breaking human skin.
Most spiders complete a single generation in one year however there are a few species that may live for several years. A typical spider s life cycle begins when egg masses are laid in debris in the fall. These eggs may overwinter as is or the individual eggs within may hatch into spiderlings that remain protected in the egg mass until spring. After laying an egg mass, the female spider dies. In the spring, spiderlings move from their overwintering site by ballooning, a process by which they produce a silken thread on which they are carried by the wind.