5 ms·

Spiders are not insects though https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-spiders-are-insects htt

Spiders are not insects though https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-spiders-are-insects https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology...

cubefox 2mo ago
But they are arthropods.
adrian_b 2mo ago
Restricting the word "insects" to hexapods is a modern convention that does not have any basis in etymology. Aristotle used the word "insects" for all terrestrial arthropods and this was followed for millennia until the last two centuries when someone preferred to use "Insecta" instead of "Hexapoda", without giving any reason for this, and others followed this taxonomy. Even so, the exact extent of the term "insects" varies between biologists, because some do not include all wingless hexapods under "insects". In an informal discussion, I do not see any mistake in using the word "insects" with its original meaning from Aristotle, which is also the meaning that can be encountered in a lot of old books. For unambiguous animal classification, the word "hexapods" is preferable.
- WhyIsItAlwaysHN 2mo ago
  This is a discussion about animal intelligence. Jumping spiders have a different brain layout than bees, which are formally insects. Other insects are more like the bee than spiders. So in this case, it matters that spiders are not in fact insects in the strict sense.
  - palata 2mo ago
    This is explicitly a thread about arthropods, though. Quote from above: > they are by a healthy margin the most intelligent arthropod
- gmfawcett 2mo ago
  > Restricting the word "insects" to hexapods is a modern convention that does not have any basis in etymology. This is one of those very rare cases in which "entomology" or "etymology" might have been chosen without the intended meaning being clear. :)

5 ms·

Spiders are not insects though https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/arachnology-and-entomology/spider-myths/myth-spiders-are-insects htt

by WhyIsItAlwaysHN 2mo ago

cubefox 2mo ago
But they are arthropods.
adrian_b 2mo ago
Restricting the word "insects" to hexapods is a modern convention that does not have any basis in etymology. Aristotle used the word "insects" for all terrestrial arthropods and this was followed for millennia until the last two centuries when someone preferred to use "Insecta" instead of "Hexapoda", without giving any reason for this, and others followed this taxonomy. Even so, the exact extent of the term "insects" varies between biologists, because some do not include all wingless hexapods under "insects". In an informal discussion, I do not see any mistake in using the word "insects" with its original meaning from Aristotle, which is also the meaning that can be encountered in a lot of old books. For unambiguous animal classification, the word "hexapods" is preferable.
- WhyIsItAlwaysHN 2mo ago
  This is a discussion about animal intelligence. Jumping spiders have a different brain layout than bees, which are formally insects. Other insects are more like the bee than spiders. So in this case, it matters that spiders are not in fact insects in the strict sense.
  - palata 2mo ago
    This is explicitly a thread about arthropods, though. Quote from above: > they are by a healthy margin the most intelligent arthropod
- gmfawcett 2mo ago
  > Restricting the word "insects" to hexapods is a modern convention that does not have any basis in etymology. This is one of those very rare cases in which "entomology" or "etymology" might have been chosen without the intended meaning being clear. :)