How do you identify a spider?

All spiders have eight legs and a body composed of two parts: a cephalothorax and an abdomen. There are an estimated 40,000 different species of spiders. Wolf spiders can be identified by their eyes; they have a bottom row of four eyes and two upper rows of two eyes each.

Jumping spiders can also be identified by their eyes. They have four pairs of eyes, two of which are extremely large. Wolf and jumping spiders do not spin webs.

Other types of spiders can be identified by their webs. The common American house spider makes the classic disorganized cobweb seen in basements and attics. Orb weaver spiders make the big, round, highly organized webs often seen attached to trees and bushes.