Course Syllabus

Welcome to this course on Insects and Spiders of North America. No doubt about it, you either love them or hate them. This course is not meant to make you squeamish, uncomfortable, or to cure you of your fears, but to offer important details and information regarding common spiders and insects found in your geographical region.

Knowing about spiders and insects can help protect yourself and your children against bites and stings that may cause anything from discomfort to a medical emergency. Throughout the course, we'll offer some interesting facts about insects and spiders and answer common questions that many people may have about them in general.

We'll identify venomous spiders and insects in North America, and offer a general breakdown of the most commonly sighted insects and spiders in all regions of the US - the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, the Great Plains, the Northeast and the Southeast. We'll tell you what these spiders and insects look like, where they like to hang out, and what to watch out for. We'll conclude this course with information on first aid for mild insect and spider bites, as well as what to do in more alarming situations, such as when someone has an allergic reaction. Even if you're squeamish, it's important to know more about these tiny creatures that often inhabit the same spaces as you do.