Are spiders considered insects?

It's almost time for Halloween, when all self-respecting little ghosts, goblins and ghouls take a special interest in spiders. We saw this little jumping spider (below) on a pink rose. It doesn't look like it could scare anything--except for maybe a sweat bee or hover fly. read more

Both spiders and insects are invertebrates, but spiders are not insects. Insects have a head, thorax and abdomen, and the thorax has three pairs of legs. They also eyes, antennae and mouthparts, the Explorit Science Center website points out. read more

No. Spiders are arachnids There are a number of key differences between arachnids and insects. Insects have three body segments: the head, thorax and abdomen. Arachnids have two body segments: the cephalothorax and abdomen. Insects have six legs; arachnids have eight. read more

Insects also have three body segments, head, abdomen, and thorax, while spiders have just two, cephalothorax and abdomen. Spiders are always wingless, but most adult insects have wings. There are a few exceptions such as walking sticks, fleas, silverfish, springtails, thrips, and in some species just one gender is wingless, such as the velvet ant. read more