The All-New Book of Amazing Facts, Volume 1

11 In Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa, a curious little spider makes its home under water. This water spider spins a tiny web in the shape of a bell and attaches it to the stems of water weeds and plants just below the surface of a freshwater pond. Since all spiders need to breathe air, the water spider takes its air along with it—like a scuba diver. On the surface, it traps tiny bubbles in the hairs of its body, then hurries home and brushes them off, releasing them under its web. The spider makes regular trips to bring back air bubbles for its underwater nest. The waterproof web becomes inflated with trapped air and makes a perfect place to live, eat, and lay eggs. When the fresh air is used up, the spider returns to the surface to breathe and collect more fresh air bubbles for its home below. Living below, yet breathing the air from above, this little spider is constantly surrounded by water but remains perfectly dry! Jesus prayed that while His followers were in the world they would be protected, daily breathing in fresh spiritual air from above. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:15, 16). The Water Spider Arachnid Scuba Divers Animals & Biology