Australian scientists announced the discovery of a new kind of spider. They call it the ballista spider because it builds a web that operates like a tension trap.
The trap shoots forward when the spider releases the fibres. 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 snare its meals.