Caught in the Web
By T. R. Flora, Contributing Writer

Although they are tiny creatures, spiders
can make a big impression. People find them to be fascinating, eerie, scary, creepy, or even amusing. The Chinese believe that a spider hanging from its web is a sign of heaven-sent good luck. In some Native American traditions, spiders represent a link between the past and the future. In ancient lore, a spider’s web saved King David from capture when his enemies found webs covering the entrance to the cave where he was hiding. Spiders and their webs have also been credited with medical and dental cures, while in a more psychological vein, dreaming of a web may symbolize life’s complexities or irrational fears.

Spiders are actually not insects but Arachnids, with the name originating in ancient Greek mythology. As legend tells it, a talented weaver named Arachne challenged Athena to a weaving contest. After losing the contest, Athena turned her opponent into a spider, thus providing the origin of the word. There are more than 35,000 named species worldwide, with many more considered to be undiscovered. On this page are a few newly discovered specimens from around the globe. A symbol of more than just good luck, these spiders bring beauty and joy to those fortunate enough to own them.