Spider which uses spring trap to capture prey discovered in Australia

submitted 2 weeks ago by

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70y138y995o

Researchers say their hunting method - which allows them to prey on dangerous ants - is unprecedented.

The snare’s “exceptionally high power” flings the ant into a bigger web at “15 times the most extreme g-forces experienced by jet pilots”, said lead researcher Prof Ajay Narendra.

“The snare mechanism seems to have evolved as a highly specialised way of allowing the spider to ‘pick off’ potentially hazardous prey one at a time and transport them a safe distance away from ant trails and nests,” researcher Dr Jonas Wolff said.

142

Hot Top New Old

DearMoogle@piefed.social

2 weeks ago

Within moments, scientists found green ants approached the trap and bit it - causing the snare to spring and the prey to be launched into the spider’s web at “extreme” acceleration.

And so the ant victim seemingly disappears, no pheromone trail for other ants to follow and cause harm to the spider. Mother Nature is so clever!

Techranger@infosec.pub

1 week ago

I wonder how they figure out how to do that. Are they really that intelligent? Fascinating if so!

blackouttripleseven@lemmy.blahaj.zone

2 weeks ago

spring trap?!?!?!? from the famous video game series five nights at freddy’s?!?!?!?

very cool spider tho

AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works

1 week ago

It’s not like FNAF invented the term or anything.

Evil_Shrubbery@thelemmy.club

edited 2 weeks ago

Whoa, this is amazing! I know there are an insane amount of spoder species out there, but how we keep discovering completely new hunting techniques is awesome.
What’s next, spiders with harpoons?

yt/r60hx-pVPrY, yt/Da7MCEz1dhs (more info)