Differences between arachnids and insects

Arachnids and insects are really quite different from each other, and explaining their differences is pertinent, since arachnids are commonly referred to as insects.

The main differences are:

Arachnids have 8 legs, and insects only 6.

The body of the vast majority of arachnids is divided into 2 parts, except for the opiliones that only have one part, while the bodies of insects are divided into 3 parts.

Arachnids have a pair of pedipalps, sometimes converted into claws, used for copulation, and insects don’t have them.

There are no arachnids with wings, and most insects have them.

All arachnids are carnivores, some are predators and others feed on carrion, except for the opiliones, as some of these feed on vegetation; while for insects, some are carnivores, omnivores, or herbivores.

When arachnids are born, they look like their parents, and they don’t go through larvae stages. Insects go through metamorphosis, either complete or incomplete.

Among spiders, we could say they all produce venom, except for one species, while only some insects do.

All insects have antennas, arachnids don’t, even though some seem to have a modified first pair of legs in a way that look like antennas, such as the palpigrades, amblypygids, and uropygids.

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