Newly described Australian ballista spider builds a spring-loaded snare to catch a single ant species
Researchers have discovered a new species of spider in Queensland, Australia, that uses a spring-loaded silk snare to hunt a specific species of green tree ant. This unique predatory behavior is considered an extreme example of evolutionary specialization.
Why it matters
The discovery provides new insights into evolutionary biology and the complex predatory strategies found in rainforest ecosystems.
In an unprecedented example of hunting specialization, this nocturnal rainforest spider has evolved a silk-powered snare that targets just one species of ant, launching its prey into the air with astonishing power and speed
The article is a purely scientific report on a biological discovery.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in