Me: Do spiders have three body segments like insects?
Copilot: No, spiders do not have three body segments like insects. Instead, spiders have two main body segments:
Cephalothorax: This is a fused head and thorax, where the legs, eyes, mouthparts, and other appendages are attached.
Abdomen: This is the rear part of the spider’s body, containing the digestive organs, reproductive organs, and spinnerets for web production.
In contrast, insects have three distinct body segments: the head, thorax, and abdomen.
This difference is one of the key ways to distinguish between spiders and insects.
Me: I live in Seattle and have house spiders living with me.
The body size is a little less than a centimeter and the legs are maybe 5 or 6 centimeters in length.
What kind do you think it is?
Copilot: Based on your description, it sounds like you might have giant house spiders (Eratigena atrica) in your home. These spiders are quite common in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. They typically have a body length of about 1 centimeter and leg spans that can reach up to 5 or 6 centimeters.
Giant house spiders are known for their speed and size, but they are generally harmless to humans. They actually help control other household pests like flies and beetles.
If you’re comfortable with them, they can be beneficial roommates!
********************************************************
I have written a brief beginning to the first chapter to another novel I am considering writing.
For the first time anywhere, here it is.
It's a sequel to The Cream Soup Spoon.
*********************************************************
Peter thought to himself "I guess I'm going to need to clean house pretty soon.
"I hate to waste a moment of my few remaining moments on that soul killing sort of activity, but I guess I am going to have to do it,
"After all, the spider webs are beginning to occlude the light from the ceiling fixtures, and those fixtures are high bright LCDs".
A high pitched, metallic-sounding "voice" rejoined.
"Yes, I think it's time. But leave our food traps, please".
That voice was the voice of Sophia, one of the many spiders that had moved in with Peter over the years.
Alfie, an apparently big orange cat, but actually a fluidly mobile entity, spoke.
"Peter, we need you to start writing again.
"You said another was imminent, and it is getting REALLY IMMINENT.
"And it can't happen if you don't write it".
"Bullshit!!!"
The metallic sound of the word "bullshit" made Peter start to laugh; Sophia, if anything, was a proper lady; "bullshit" would not have been thought to be a part of her mental processes, let alone her ready-to-use vocabulary.
But she used it.
Peter started laughing, stopped, started again, and then could not stop.
Choking ensued.
Things calmed down and Alfie, Peter and Sophia stared at one another.
Peter had told Sophia of his adventures with Bert, Cinq, Rose, Genji, Lancelot and Alfie when Alfie had appeared one day at the residence that Peter, Sophia, and the rest of the spiders share; Alfie was sneezing amongst the spider webs, but otherwise seemed to know his way around.
"This looks just like Bert told me it looked" he said.
Sophia immediately identified Alfie as kindred, although he had half as many legs as she.
After all, Peter only had two.
Legs.
And she had accepted him.
So, staring at each other after the "bullshit", they had every component of an ability to sort things out.
