Insect vs Spider: 6 Legs vs 8, Compared in 3D
Spiders are not insects. Count the legs: insects have six and spiders have eight. Insects have three body parts, antennae and usually wings. Spiders have two body parts, no antennae and no wings. Here is an ant next to a tarantula.
Insect vs spider: true size
Insect vs spider at a glance
| Insect | Spider | |
|---|---|---|
| Legs | 6 | 8 |
| Body parts | 3: head, thorax, abdomen | 2: a joined head and chest, and an abdomen |
| Antennae | Yes, 2 | None |
| Wings | Most adults have them | Never |
| Eyes | Usually two big compound eyes | Usually eight simple eyes |
| Silk | Only some young insects, such as silkworms | All spiders make silk |
| Group | Insects | Arachnids, with scorpions and mites |
| Known species | About 1 million | About 50,000 |
Why spiders are not insects
Insects and spiders are both arthropods, animals with jointed legs and a hard outer shell. But they belong to different branches. Insects split their body into head, thorax and abdomen, and carry antennae for smelling and feeling. Spiders join the head and chest into one part and use leg-like feelers called pedipalps instead of antennae.
Hunters and hunted
Every spider is a predator, catching prey with silk, fangs and venom. Many of the animals they catch are insects. Insects eat almost everything: plants, nectar, wood, other insects, and even dead animals.
Quick facts
- Woodlice are not insects either: they are crustaceans, related to crabs.
- Insects make up more than half of all known animal species.
- Ants can carry many times their own body weight.
- Some spiders, such as jumping spiders, have excellent eyesight.
- The hard outer shell of both is called an exoskeleton.
Look inside both
Insect vs spider questions
Is a spider an insect?
No. A spider is an arachnid. It has eight legs, two body parts and no antennae; insects have six legs, three body parts and antennae.
How many legs does an insect have?
Six, all attached to the middle body part, the thorax.
Do spiders have antennae?
No. They use leg-like feelers called pedipalps instead.
What do insects and spiders have in common?
Both are arthropods, with jointed legs and a hard exoskeleton that they shed as they grow.
Are there more insects or spiders?
Insects, by far: about a million named species against about 50,000 spiders.
More face-offs: see all 3D comparisons.
The 3D Bug Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.