Day 6: Trapdoors: Audouin's trapdoor spiders (Ummidia audouini) build burrows in the ground from which to ambush prey. They also retreat to them for safety, holding the lid shut from beneath. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #trapdoorspider #ancientspecies #arthistoryscienceandmystery

Day 5: Jumpers: The Zebra Jumping spider (Salticus scenicus) has a vivid pattern like its namesake. They use silk to spin small tent-like structures in which to sleep, moult, and shelter from the weather. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #jumpingspider #arthistoryscienceandmystery

Day 4: Crab spiders: Crab spiders have the ability to walk sideways. The flower crab spider (Misumena vatia) can change color to suit the flowers on which it sits. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #flowercrabspider #colorchangingspider #naturejournaling #arthistoryscienceandmystery

Day 3: Widows: We are familiar with Black Widows, but the Red Widow spider (Latrodectus bishopi) rarely has contact with people. It is a threatened species, living in the sand pines of southern Florida. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #redwidowspider #arthistoryscienceandmystery

Day 2: Wolf and Grass spiders: These spiders are gloriously fuzzy and involved with living life. This male spotted wolf spider (Pardosa amentata) is practicing his amorous dance moves. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #spottedwolfspider #naturejournaling #arthistoryscienceandmystery

The Joro is an invasive species. Since it eats pests other predators won’t there is still speculation on if it will benefit rather than be a detriment to the ecosystem. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #goldenorbwebspider #jorospider #naturejournaling #arthistoryscienceandmystery

The Golden is endemic to the area, and best known for webs that make gardening a bit of a sticky situation. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #goldenorbwebspider #jorospider #naturejournaling #arthistoryscienceandmystery

Day 1: Orb weavers: The Golden Silk Orb Web Spider (Trichonephila clavipes) and the Joro Spider (Trichonephila clavata) have ancestry that dates back to the Cenozoic. #bekindtospidersweek #bekindtospidersweek2024 #goldenorbwebspider #jorospider #naturejournaling #arthistoryscienceandmystery

That’s it! You can find more information on Be Kind To Spiders Week at the link below. Go forth, make art and be kind!

Use the 7th day to showcase a favorite spider, a spider-related work by another creator who has been a source of inspiration for you, or both!

Use #bekindtospidersweek and #bekindtospidersweek2024 when you post your work and add a 🕷️🕸️ so we can all find one another and what we have created.

Each of the first 6 days of the week will have a species prompt. We’ve kept the categories broad, and encourage you to do a bit of research before choosing your subject. You won’t regret it!

4/1: Orb weavers
4/2: Wolf and Grass spiders
4/3: Widows
4/4: Crab spiders
4/5: Jumpers
4/6: Trapdoors

The first week of April is Be Kind To Spiders Week!

In honor of this opportunity to get to know these fascinating creatures a bit better, 18Hz Arts Collective has put together a prompt list as inspiration for creators in all media to use as a starting point for spider-related art works.