ARTICLE-A-DAY Spiders, Worms, and Other Invertebrates 6 Articles Check articles you have read: Spiders 84 words Wolf Spiders 105 words Ticks and Insects 83 words Watch Out for Ticks 99 words A Special Spider 88 words Earthworms Do Good Work 83 words Page 1 of 7 ReadWorks.org 2018 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.
NO_PA, Inc. 2013 ASpiders Spiders Some spiders are small. Some are as small as the head of a pin. Some spiders are big. One of the biggest spiders is the Goliath Birdeating Tarantula. It is bigger than a human hand. Large or small, all spiders have some things in common. They all have eight legs. They all have fangs. Fangs are long, sharp teeth. Spiders are helpful to people. They eat insects that harm farm crops. They eat insects that carry diseases. Think twice before you squash one! Page 2 of 7
2014 NO_PAWolf Spiders Spiders By Rachelle Kreisman Wolf spiders live all over the world. They are often brown, black, or gray. They have eight eyes. They also have eight legs. Wolf spiders hatch from eggs. Baby spiders are called spiderlings. Their mom takes good care of them. The spiderlings climb onto her back. They stay there for weeks. As a spider grows, it molts. That means it sheds its skin. A wolf spider molts many times during its life. Each time, it gets bigger. Most spiders build webs to catch prey. Wolf spiders do not. They hunt for food. Wolf spiders eat insects and other spiders. They also eat very small animals. Page 3 of 7 2014 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.
NO_PA, Inc. 2014 A Ticks and Insects Ticks and Insects By Susan LaBella Ticks are tiny animals. They live in woods and grasses. Ticks can bite people. Some tick bites make people sick. Insects are small animals, too. They also live in woods and grasses. Some insect bites harm people. But ticks are not insects. Here are some ways that ticks and insects are different: Ticks have two body parts. Insects have three body parts. Ticks have eight legs. Insects have six legs. Ticks do not have antennae. Many insects do have antennae. Page 4 of 7 2014 ReadWorks, Inc. All rights reserved.
2013 Watch Out for Ticks NO_PAWatch Out for Ticks Ticks are tiny bugs that live in woods and fields. They can be hard to see. Ticks can bite people. Some tick bites can make people sick. How can you stay safe from ticks? Have a grown-up spray your skin with child-safe bug spray. Wear long sleeves and pants in woods or fields. Tuck your pant bottoms into your socks. Check all over your body for ticks. Have a grown-up you trust help you. If you find a tick on you, let a grown-up take it off. Wash the spot well with soap and water. Page 5 of 7
NO_PA, Inc. 2013 A A Special Spider A Special Spider The wolf spider is a special spider. It does not build a web. It hunts for food like a wolf hunts. It walks around on the ground looking for food. Most spiders lay their eggs on their web. The wolf spider mother carries her eggs with her. Many baby spiders hatch from the eggs. The babies are called spiderlings. The mother cares for her spiderlings in an unusual way. She carries them on her back. Soon the little ones will be free to go out on their own. Page 6 of 7
NO_PA, Inc. 2013 A Earthworms Do Good Work Earthworms Do Good Work Photo Credit: Earthdirt Earthworms live underground. Do you know how wiggly worms help plants? Earthworms dig tunnels in the dirt. The tunnels help bring air and water into the dirt. That keeps the dirt wet and healthy. Earthworms eat dirt and leaves as they make tunnels. They leave their droppings in the dirt. Those droppings help the dirt stay healthy. Plants grow well in healthy dirt. Some people buy earthworms to put in their gardens. Those people want to keep the dirt healthy! Page 7 of 7