Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
A spidery kinda month
PETER FROST researches around the world of eight-legged arachnids on the web and introduces a working-class hero

AT THIS time of year it always seems as if the spiders all come out to play and spin their webs. 

The UK is home to over 750 million spiders spanning more than 650 different species. That means there are a dozen spiders for every human being in Britain.

Spiders are not insects — they are arachnids with eight legs, and almost all spider species have fangs from which they can inject venom.

A money spider known as Linyphia triangularis (Pic: James K Lindsey/Creative Commons)
Flight of the bumblebee
The wasp spider is a recent arrival in Britain
John gets set to abseil down the enormous tower
The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
bayeux
Opinon / 20 July 2026
20 July 2026

STEPHANIE BROWN draws attention to the hidden labour of the female embroiderers, and how a 19th century replica made no such error

bumblebees
Heatwave / 17 July 2026
17 July 2026

Rising temperatures and human activity are making life far harder for these vital pollinators. ALEX DITTRICH explains

The banner takes its place on the Edinburgh Pride parade. Pic: Andrew Johnstone
Internationalism / 29 June 2026
29 June 2026

ANGUS REID and ANDREW JOHNSTONE report on an initiative that we must take this summer

IS
Music / 3 November 2025
3 November 2025

New releases from The Dreaming Spires, Bruce Springsteen, and Chet Baker