A spider that builds life-sized decoys

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_ne ... 135844.stm

For the nature minded, here's a species of an arachnid that does not camouflage themselves, but instead construct life-sized decoys to distract the predator, usually a wasp, into thinking it was the real thing. Then when the predator tucks into their "meal", the army of an orb spiders, Cyclosa mulmeinensis, strike. What is interesting is that the predator would actually target the decoy more rather than the real spider, thinking it to be a tasty meal.

[Galloism]

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_ne ... 135844.stm

For the nature minded, here's a species of an arachnid that does not camouflage themselves, but instead construct life-sized decoys to distract the predator, usually a wasp, into thinking it was the real thing. Then when the predator tucks into their "meal", the army of an orb spiders, Cyclosa mulmeinensis, strike. What is interesting is that the predator would actually target the decoy more rather than the real spider, thinking it to be a tasty meal.

Ok, I didn't see this part in the article. Where was it?

If it's true - that's fucking awesome.

[Brogavia]

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_ne ... 135844.stm

For the nature minded, here's a species of an arachnid that does not camouflage themselves, but instead construct life-sized decoys to distract the predator, usually a wasp, into thinking it was the real thing. Then when the predator tucks into their "meal", the army of an orb spiders, Cyclosa mulmeinensis, strike. What is interesting is that the predator would actually target the decoy more rather than the real spider, thinking it to be a tasty meal.

Ok, I didn't see this part in the article. Where was it?

If it's true - that's fucking awesome.

QTF.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Ok, I didn't see this part in the article. Where was it?

If it's true - that's fucking awesome.

It is indeed true but the source article goes into detail because the biologists Ling Tseng and I-Min Tso of Tunghai University in Taichung, ROC, were testing how decoys on spider webs could distract a predator, a wasp in this case. Bit like a Trojan Horse from a Greek myth.

[Ifreann]

Spiders are going to take over the world one day. And no amount of kowtowing to your arachnid overlords will save you.

[Galloism]

Ok, I didn't see this part in the article. Where was it?

If it's true - that's fucking awesome.

It is indeed true but the source article goes into detail because the biologists Ling Tseng and I-Min Tso of Tunghai University in Taichung, ROC, were testing how decoys on spider webs could distract a predator, a wasp in this case. Bit like a Trojan Horse from a Greek myth.

So it is in the article and I missed it, or it's not in the article?

[South Lorenya]

Speaking of "fucking awesome", one year a spider built their web across the windows on our front door. Many many many mosquitoes thought they'd be flying into the house to take a quick snack on us, only to wind up being that spider's quick snack! I've looked at the web many times, and there were ALWAYS 30+ insects caught in it; that spider was nice and fat, too. Too bad none of the other spiders followed his/her example...

[Call to power]

I just kill the wasps with a rolled up newspaper maybe the spiders should leave a few mags on their carefully decorated coffee tables

[Autumn Wind]

All hail the queen spider!

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/153528

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Well thats just cool.