Loading...

Course Description

Spiders often evoke a combination of fear and fascination, curiosity, and horror. No matter how you feel about arachnids, you'll learn that these stunningly diverse creatures are capable of amazing feats and can be remarkably beautiful.

 We'll explore how spiders with brilliant hues use their markings to attract females, deter potential predators, or better blend into their habitat. We'll ponder their webs, delicate architectural masterpieces that are amazingly strong and stretchy. And discover how only a few spiders are dangerous to humans, yet their amazing venoms are being used to treat disease and reduce pain.

 Join Linda Rayor, star of television's Monster Bug Wars, for an enthusiastic introduction to these incredible animals.

Faculty Author

Dr. Rayor specializes in spider behavior and science outreach. She has won numerous teaching awards for her courses on spider biology, insect behavior, and a course on how to do effective scientific outreach. Recently, Dr. Rayor received a career teaching award from the hemispheric Animal Behavior Society.

Dr. Rayor also directs a large K-12 science outreach program that emphasizes backyard biology and natural history in Central New York. Her behavioral research has focused on the costs and benefits of group living in predatory arthropods, particularly large Australian huntsman spiders.

Dr. Rayor’s a TV star, too! She recently appeared in the six-episode Monster Bug Wars series on the Discovery Science channel. She is one of two on-camera scientists talking about the behavior and biology of the show's featured creatures.

Benefits to the Learner

  • Identify spider’s markings and discover their purposes.

  • Explore different species of spiders and their habitats.

  • Investigate the behavior of spiders and what they mean.

  • Recognize poisonous spiders and understand how venom is used in current medicine. 

  • Obtain exposure to recent research and development at Cornell.

Loading...
Thank you for your interest in this course. Unfortunately, the course you have selected is currently not open for enrollment. Please complete a Course Inquiry so that we may promptly notify you when enrollment opens.
Required fields are indicated by .