Moves as smooth as silk: scientists uncover Australian ant-slayer spider’s hunting secrets
by Donna Lu from on (#63TCH)
With stealth followed by speedy acrobatics, Euryopis umbilicata can successfully catch banded sugar ants twice its size
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A mid-air cartwheel, the judicious use of sticky silk and a quick rappel down a tree, all in the blink of an eye: researchers have identified how the Australian ant-slayer spider captures prey twice its size.
The acrobatic behaviour of the Australian ant-slayer spider, Euryopis umbilicata, as it hunts and eats banded sugar ants has been documented by scientists for the first time.
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