Are Spiders Bugs? Yes or No?

Are spiders bugs?

  • Yes

    Votes: 14 26.4%
  • No

    Votes: 39 73.6%

  • Total voters
    53
  • Poll closed .

Kathy

Arachnoangel
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No, Spiders are not bugs. They're arachnids. Technically, spiders are not bugs since they are arachnids not insects. Technically only certain insects are bugs, belonging to the insect order Hemiptera. Therefore not all insects are bugs, either.


The answer is yes. Bugs are small arthropods by definition. Arthropods include insects, arachnids, and crustaceans. Spiders are arachnids, so they are arthropods. Therefore, spiders are bugs.

---------- Post added at 04:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 PM ----------

Oops, mods...I think I should have posted this in the "spider" section. I'm sorry! :eek:
 

What

Arachnoprince
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It depends upon the audience being talked to and the specific nature of the statements... Kinda one of those terms you should define when using though, i.e. "using bugs collectively to refer to X, X, X, and X" and such.
 

xhexdx

ArachnoGod
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Spiders aren't bugs. I don't know where you got your definition from.
 

JC

Arachnolort
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Yes spiders are bugs. The word 'bug' is actually a layman's word. 'Bug' refers to most arthropods, Crustacea does not count.

If it crawly,spineless, and a non-sea dweller, then it is a 'bug'.

Spiders aren't bugs. I don't know where you got your definition from.

I hope you are joking. ;)
 

Scoolman

Arachnolord
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Formally speaking A bug is an insect of the order Hemiptera.
Informally speaking bugs include most arthropods, not including marine crustaceans:
insect
spiders
scorpion
mite
tick
centipede
millipede
woodlouse

So, technically the OPs original post is accurate. If one was to argue the point, then one must accept that "bug" does not refer to anything but Hemiptera, and therefore cannot be used in reference to any other arthropod.
 

JC

Arachnolort
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Well obviously spiders are not "true" bugs. I guess you can pick one of your two definitions on this one. But there is no real discussion here to be had.

Here is your pick :

"True" bugs, you know exactly what they are.

Laymens "bug" still refers to most arthropods, not including Crustacea.
 

Kirk

Arachnodemon
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Well obviously spiders are not "true" bugs. I guess you can pick one of your two definitions on this one. But there is no real discussion here to be had.

Here is your pick :

"True" bugs, you know exactly what they are.

Laymens "bug" still refers to most arthropods, not including Crustacea.
Kathy wrote,
Bugs are small arthropods by definition. Arthropods include insects, arachnids, and crustaceans. Spiders are arachnids, so they are arthropods. Therefore, spiders are bugs.
The statement, "Bugs are small arthropods," implies that some, but not all, small arthropods are bugs. The conclusion that spiders are bugs can't be determined from that premise. But then whoever said laypersons always think logically? :cool:
 

JC

Arachnolort
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Kirk,

Yeah, the laymens term is basically crap. And people will use it as they please, even if it doesn't fit the definition correctly.

But I think it is important to note that the laymens 'bug' it is the most widely is the most widely used term.

They don't call him KenTheArthropodaGuy, and when someone says "I stepped on a bug", 99.999% of the time they are not specifically referring to the Hemiptera order. :)
 

Kirk

Arachnodemon
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Kirk,

Yeah, the laymens term is basically crap. And people will use it as they please, even if it doesn't fit the definition correctly.

But I think it is important to note that the laymens 'bug' it is the most widely is the most widely used term.

They don't call him KenTheArthropodaGuy, and when someone says "I stepped on a bug", 99.999% of the time they are not specifically referring to the Hemiptera order. :)
I agree. I was only trying to point out why Kathy's quasi-syllogism falls apart.
 

xhexdx

ArachnoGod
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Imo, it's people misusing the word 'bug'.

It's like common names vs. binomial nomenclature. I'll stick with what's correct.
 

Obelisk

Arachnobaron
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Jun 15, 2009
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When I hear the word bug, only insects come to mind really. But I understand that the average person refers to most terrestrial arthropods as bugs.
 

llamastick

Arachnoknight
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Jan 8, 2011
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I really wish that English had a one- or two-syllable term to refer to all land-based arthropods.
 

Michiel

Arachnoking
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body with three segments, antennae and six legs= insect, "bug"
body with two segments, no antennae and eight legs= arachnid (Scorpions, Amblypygids, Thelyphonida, Schizomida, Opiliones etc etc)....

Bug seems to be a non specialist term for anything "creepy crawly" and flying insects
 

Kirk

Arachnodemon
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Why are you making this personal? Besides...go back and look. I posted the question and presented two sides and opened it to discussion. Where did I state which side I chose? Proof that people only see what they want to see.
Nothing personal intended. It was generic, sort of like your generalization that people only see what they want to see. I was referring to the structure of the argument you presented.
 

Kathy

Arachnoangel
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Nothing personal intended. It was generic, sort of like your generalization that people only see what they want to see. I was referring to the structure of the argument you presented.
Oh okay. I was thinking I was a computer/marketing teacher...that doesn't exactly qualify me as knowing anything about spiders. I see where you are coming from now.
 

desertanimal

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Jan 6, 2011
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When I hear the word "bug," only bugs come to mind. The ones with proboscises (is that the right plural? It's the only one spellcheck doesn't flag) for mouthparts.

To me, calling anything else a bug is like calling a side-blotch lizard or an iguana a "gecko."
 

skar

Arachnobaron
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Jan 19, 2010
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I refer to spiders, insects etc . . as I see them.
Most general people or friends I know respond to spiders as AAAGGHHH OMG kill it get out of here !!! So I don't think most people think they are bugs either.
Lady bugs I consider bugs. :D
 
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