Spiders: Eight-Legged Terrors

If a spider has "giant" in its name, it's bound to terrorize people of all ages. These large arachnids are the world's largest spider by leg span. What's more-they don't build webs! Instead, they hunt down their prey like so many other predators. Through full-color photographs of these dazzling creatures and engaging text, readers explore the world of the giant huntsman to learn how and where they live, and just how large these monster creatures can grow.

The good news is that unless you live in Australia, you likely won't encounter funnel-web spiders in your backyard. Vacationing there, though, exposes you to more than 40 kinds of funnel-web spiders, and many are extremely poisonous. This book takes a look at many of these amazing creatures, exploring how they build their funnel-shaped burrows and where they like to live. With full-color photographs of these amazing arachnids in their foliage-filled habitats, readers will discover the wild world of these small but dangerous creatures.

The name "black widow" strikes fear into hearts of those living where these spiders reside. These fearsome arachnids have venom about 15 times more powerful than that of a rattlesnake! With their distinctive black bodies and red mark on their abdomens, black widows terrorize those afraid of spiders and their poisonous bites. This book explores how these creatures live, where to find them, and what they use all that venom for. It also gives readers a look at why these spiders are so feared, and what to do if they bite humans.

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!

It's a good thing this spider's prey can't read, because this spider's name gives away its secret. Trap-door spiders build burrows that double as slick traps they use to catch a tasty meal. These cunning eight-legged terrors hide at the bottom of the burrow and wait for dinner to show up at its door. Through incredible photographs showing the building and use of these nests, readers explore the world of trap-door spiders and see how they differ from other relatives in the arachnid family.

These killer spiders don't like to be bothered, and most people will gladly keep their distance. When they do get close to humans, however, it can be very dangerous. A brown recluse bite is full of venom and needs immediate medical attention. This book is full of facts about these fierce arachnids, how they live, and what to do if you find yourself face-to-face with the feared brown recluse. Readers will also discover how the changing climate on Earth is harming these animals and what can be done to protect its habitats.