There are many thousands of species of flying insects.

There are thousands of species of flying fowl.

There are many species of flying mammals (bats).

There are even species of fish that can fly to a limited degree.

But, AFAIK, there are NO species of flying arachnids. That’s despite the fact that arachnids are the second largest animal class (after insects). And the fact that arachnids are closer in form to insects than they are to any other animal class. I’ve often puzzled over that.

Yes, there are spiders that let out a strand of web to catch the wind to loft them in the air, but that isn’t flying.

Things that make you go “Hmmmmmmm”

Why fly when the food comes to you?

They don't need to fly. They float on air with a bit of silk if they need to move around. They can get through the air on webs easily. And because the earliest flying spiders were immediately killed by Cro-Magnon man, with fire. They knew the horror that would ensue if the flying spider was to survive.

What if there are flying spiders, but we think they're just regular insects because they've got 6 legs, and we don't count the wings as limbs?

So, Pipe Smoker, whatchu got in that pipe, this Saturday morning?

quote:

Originally posted by Orguss:
Why fly when the food comes to you?

Yup, they chose instead to just hang out to catch and eat all those things that fly.

True that. They are also one of the most ancient of classes, and one of the most successful. Flight was a modification that somehow, sometime, benefited those that do. Perhaps to escape the arachnids. Mother Nature is nothing if not frugal with Her gifts.

Not flying per se but I have seen them leap from great heights trailing a silk fiber to begin a web between two trees. They are amazing constructors. Sometimes they build too low and I ride my horse or RTV through the web causing me to flail my arms in panic and scream like a little girl.

Why no flying spiders?

Because God is merciful and loves us. . .

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
Why no flying spiders?

Because God is merciful and loves us. . .

Correct answer.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Then God made flying spiders, and God saw the flying spiders and that they were bad.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

For some reason I've started thinking about flying lobsters, bears, even.

Because that would screw up the entire Spiderman narrative.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
They don't need to fly.

+1

quote:

Spiders Can Fly Through the Air for Miles Using Electricity, Study Finds

“ballooning,” allows the arachnids to use strands of silk to float up to three miles above the Earth’s surface and 1,000 miles out to sea.
https://fortune.com/2018/07/06...s-ballooning-flying/

yea, because that is exactly what the world needs.... flying spiders.

Spiders developed along different lines. Their extreme success strategy didn’t push them in an evolutionary direction that dictated it as necessary.

Why don't snakes have legs?

I found out...

https://news.nationalgeographi...grow-legs-evolution/

Apparently, snakes and lizards share only a very small gene between them after millions of years of evolution.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: az4783054, July 20, 2019 01:06 PM

quote:

Originally posted by az4783054:
Why don't snakes have legs?

Some do, but we call them "lizards".

quote:

Not flying per se but I have seen them leap from great heights trailing a silk fiber to begin a web between two trees.

A little jumping spider, maybe the size of a nickel, once came down from what I believe to be the ceiling of my workplace, about 12-14 feet up. This would be like a man jumping off three Empire State Buildings stacked atop one another.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
Why no flying spiders?

Because God is merciful and loves us. . .

Then he hates Chicago!

https://youtu.be/GZNzgkQMn28


https://strangesounds.org/2015...you-up-at-night.html


Just another reason to STAY AWAY!