Similarities:
- Egg laying: Both insects and spiders typically lay eggs.
- Hatching: Insect and spiders eggs hatch into nymphs or larvae.
- Molting: Both insects and spiders undergo multiple molts as they grow and develop.
- Metamorphosis: Both insects and spiders go through some form of metamorphosis. In insects, this is often a dramatic change from larva to adult, while in spiders, it is a more gradual process of adding body parts and developing reproductive organs.
Differences:
- Number of stages: Insects typically go through four stages of development (egg, larva, pupa, adult), while most spiders go through three (egg, spiderling, adult).
- Larvae vs spiderlings: Insect larvae are typically very different from adult insects, both in appearance and behavior. Spiderlings, on the other hand, are small versions of adult spiders and generally resemble their parents.
- Wings: Most insects have wings as adults, while spiders do not.
- Antennae: Insects have antennae, while spiders do not.
- Spiracles: Insects have spiracle on their bodies for breathing, while spiders have book lungs or trachea.
- Reproduction: Insects typically reproduce sexually, while spiders can reproduce both sexually and asexually.
It is important to note that there is a great deal of diversity among both insects and spiders, and there may be exceptions to some of these generalizations.