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Spider which uses spring trap to capture prey discovered in Australia

A new species of spider which weaves a catapult-like silk trap to snare a single type of ant has been discovered in the remote rainforests of northern Australia.

Researchers believe the nocturnal predator developed the unique hunting method to make meals of aggressive ants which are notoriously dangerous – and unusual – prey for arachnids.

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.

Though it is yet to be formally named, scientists have nicknamed the tiny spider "ballista", after the ancient weapon used to hurl stones in battle.

Newly discovered spider uses 'ballista' web to capture prey

A newly discovered spider uses an ingenious method to launch its prey into the air, named after an ancient Roman weapon.

The ballista spider was discovered in the rainforests of Far North Queensland. 

The spider is yet to be formally named, but belongs to the genus Propostira.

A bizarre species of spider from the remote rainforests of Far North Queensland springs a nasty surprise when its prey is lured into its web. 

The tiny and newly discovered ballista spider — named after an ancient Roman weapon that used a spring to launch a stone — uses an ingenious method to literally launch its prey into the air.

This tiny Australian spider uses a high-powered web catapult to trap and eat aggressive ants

There’s more than one way a spider can spin its web. Some construct large vertical orb webs, while others build horizontal sheet webs or tangled cobwebs that ensnare crawling insects.

There’s also more than one way a spider can catch its dinner. Net-casting spiders throw small silk nets over unsuspecting prey, while slingshot spiders use their conical webs like catapults, launching both themselves and the web toward nearby prey.

In the tropical rainforests of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, we discovered a spider with a new hunting strategy: a small nocturnal animal of the genus Propostira which we call the ballista spider.

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