1 SPIDERMANIA Friends on the Web By Alexandra Siy Photomicrographs by Dennis Kunkel Holiday House New York
SPIDERS ON YOUR MIND This lucky-to-be-alive crab spider was captured by a photographer’s camera in Germany for the world to admire 4
A Short Funny Video It’s springtime in New Jersey and a group of fourth graders are visiting Governor Chris Christie The governor loves kids he has four of his own and regularly hosts students in his office where he answers their questions about government current events and other interesting things But during this visit there’s something much smaller than a ten year-old that has caught his attention The class crowds around his desk trying to see it The governor bends over to get a closer look Where is he he asks Ah there he is Let’s staple it shouts a boy But before anyone can reach for the stapler or any other piece of lethal office equipment down comes the governor’s hand Bam Splat Children cheer some clap A few laugh Life goes on Except of course for the spider The governor tweets Earlier today I saved a few school children from a spider The spiny-backed orb-weaver is shown 20 times x20 larger than its actual size It has a hard flat body with three pairs of spines projecting from the edge of its abdomen It catches insects in its vertical orb web Then he posts a video on YouTube called Governor Christie Saves School Children From Spider It’s a short funny video unless you are a spider or a friend of one Most people don’t like spiders Many are afraid of them Arachnophobia is the scientific term for fear of spiders Spiders scorpions ticks and mites are types of arachnids all adult arachnids have four pairs of jointed legs But only spiders have spinnerets the parts that make silk 5
