arachnids – a class of arthropods with eight legs that includes spiders, scorpions, mites and ticks

(Pronounced a-rak-nid)

Note: The best known example of an arachnid is the spider.

To remember the meaning of arachnids, recall that the best known example is a spider and use that mnemonic to remember that arachnids have 8 legs and belong to the arthropods. Use the following mnemonic:

On a rack, I kept my knitted (arachnid) spiders who ate (eight) flies.

Arachnids are a class of arthropods that are distinguished by having eight legs, two main body segments, and no antennae or wings. Unlike insects, they have simple eyes rather than compound eyes and use a different method of respiration.

Arachnids are primarily terrestrial predators that feed by injecting digestive enzymes into their prey and then sucking up the liquified tissues, as they cannot chew solid food. This diverse group includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites and harvestmen, with spiders being the most familiar example. Most arachnids are beneficial to ecosystems as they control insect populations.