Content tagged with "Insects, Spiders and Kin"

Also called “pond skaters” and “water spiders,” water striders are hard not to notice. Water-repellant hairs on the hind and middle legs allow these nimble insects to skate on the surface of the water.

This species is similar to its close relative, the black-and-yellow garden spider. However, the white-backed garden spider is slightly smaller overall, with a pointier hind end. Also, the abdomen is patterned with many thin silver and yellow transverse lines and thicker black, spotty lines.

These athletic spiders don't spin webs to catch their prey; instead, they run it down like wolves! (Lone wolves, that is.) Wolf spiders have long legs and are usually gray, brown, black or tan with dark brown or black body markings (especially stripes). This family of spiders includes many of the most common spiders in Missouri as well as worldwide.