Australian scientists say they have discovered 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 pulls the silk. This flings ants into the air where they get stuck. Researchers filmed the spider tensing the web before the sudden release. They spotted it in Queensland’s rainforests, often concealed beneath foliage. The discovery shows a spider that uses quick, mechanical force to catch food.