Pest Control Technician Practice Exam

Which of the following body features do spiders lack that distinguishes them from insects?

1. Legs

2. Antennae

3. Exoskeleton

4. Wings

The correct answer is: Antennae

Spiders are classified as arachnids, which distinctly sets them apart from insects in various anatomical features. One of the key characteristics that distinguishes arachnids from insects is the absence of antennae. Insects typically possess a pair of antennae that serve sensory functions, whereas spiders do not have these appendages. Instead, spiders have specialized structures such as pedipalps and chelicerae, which are used for feeding, sensing, and reproduction. While insects have three pairs of legs, spiders have eight legs, which is another way they diverge from insects, but the presence or absence of antennae is one of the most definitive features for this distinction. The exoskeleton is common to both groups, and wings are features of certain insect species but not relevant to spiders. Thus, the absence of antennae is what fundamentally differentiates spiders from insects.