Feature Writer: 
With between 4 and 6 million species, insects are the most common animals on Earth. They populate almost every habitat from Antarctica to deserts, rain forests, lakes, mountain tops, glacier snow, and deep underground. A few live in the ocean.
Where there are insects, spiders feed on them. Ranging in size from just a few hundredths of an inch to giants with leg spans near thirteen inches, spiders are the ultimate insect hunters: stalking or building webs to catch them.
Animals with jointed legs are arthropods. Of these, only the insects have wings to fly, but air travel is an important method of dispersal used by other arthropods.
Suite101 articles bring new information on insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. Please comment on the articles and share stories of invertebrates on my blogs.
Chemical Communication in Aphids
In: Crawling Insects
Scientists are busy identifying the myriad of molecules that regulate social, reproductive, and emergency interactions of aphids and associated animals. more...
Ants Tightly Control Their Aphids
In: Crawling Insects
Although ants and aphids are known to share a mutually positive relationship, the ants keep their "cows" in line through behavioral and chemical constraints. more...
Persistent Viral Infections of Aphids
In: Crawling Insects
Viral diseases that aphids transmit to plants are either persistent or last only a few days. The viruses of persistent infections permeate the entire body of the aphid. more...
In: Crawling Insects
While a heavy infestation of aphids may deplete a plant's resources and kill it, a light scattering of aphids might transfer viruses that destroy an entire crop. more...
Hazards to Aphids Living in Galls
In: Crawling Insects
Dangers and restrictions of gall living affect the dwellers. The ways in which aphids attempt to overcome these are highly evolved, yet are sometimes insurmountable. more...
In: Crawling Insects
Although most are aerial, many aphids cause plants to produce galls, produce external camouflage, or even go underground and spend the winter in ant burrows. more...
In: Crawling Insects
Living inside an overgrowth of plant tissue, some aphids are both hidden from predators and derive higher quality nourishment than do free-living aphids. more...
It seems aphids have two purposes in life: eat and reproduce. Though their feeding method is simple, their reproductive methods are highly varied and complex. more...
All feature articles in Insects/Spiders
All contributors in Insects/Spiders
Lightning Bugs Making Their Annual Appearance
In: Flying Insects
By: Richard Barrett
Removing Aphids Without the Use of Chemicals
In: Other Insects
By: Lynne Garner
In: Flying Insects
By: Lynne Garner
In: Flying Insects
By: Lynne Garner
Five Ways to Encourage Insects into Your Garden
By: Lynne Garner
All contributing articles in Insects/Spiders