Australian scientists say they have discovered a new kind of spider. They call it the ballista spider because it builds a web that functions as an elastic snare.
The trap shoots forward when the spider pulls the silk. This flings ants into the air where they are snared. Researchers filmed the spider tensing the web before the rapid release. They spotted it in Queensland’s rainforests, often concealed beneath foliage. The discovery shows a spider that uses speed and mechanical power to capture prey.