Totally random guess, but I'd guess it would be because most animals on earth tend to be based on an even number of pairs of limbs. Two of those limbs are wings on insects, giving them 8 limbs. So, a winged spider would violate that.
Of course, I'm trying to remember how ticks and crabs fit into that. I may be full of it...
I'm with this answer. Don't some species of young spiders spin silklines to catch the wind and move? It sounds like they're already "flying" to me, wings or no.
lol. I thought of you when I wrote this, answering my own question quite selfishly with, "because then I never would have gotten to meet Hol, who would still be hiding out somewhere."
beacuse they just didn't evolve that way? because the mutations that gave insects wings didn't occur or couldn't occur in spiders? or that insects were already beginning to occupy that niche and flying spiders would have put them in direct competion with insects so instead they developed web spinning and silk production and exploited other niches (which also allows them to take many insects as prey....). and yes - as someone else pointed out insects have 6 legs plus wings, one supects (though I can't remember) that the wings, as are insect/spider mouth parts are modified legs.
wonder if there are flying spiders in the fossil record?
Because that would be just too wrong. I'd be all "OMFG A FLYING SPIDER!" and never leave the house again. They're scary enough as it is, with all those legs and their uncanny ability to stick to you when you're desperately flailing around trying to brush them off you, and when was the last time you walked face-first into a web - it takes me *hours* to get over that skin-crawling feeling of "There's one on me!"
Frankly, I think it's cruel enough that we have Palmetto bugs. Take a cockroach, make it fearless and sunlight-loving, three inches long, armored like a tank, and then give it wings. I mean, ewww!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 07:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 07:59 pm (UTC)Of course, I'm trying to remember how ticks and crabs fit into that. I may be full of it...
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 08:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 08:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 08:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 08:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 08:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 08:42 pm (UTC)wonder if there are flying spiders in the fossil record?
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 08:58 pm (UTC)Frankly, I think it's cruel enough that we have Palmetto bugs. Take a cockroach, make it fearless and sunlight-loving, three inches long, armored like a tank, and then give it wings. I mean, ewww!