A newly discovered Australian ballista spider has evolved one of the most specialized hunting strategies ever seen. Instead of chasing prey, it builds a spring-loaded silk snare that appears to target a single species: The aggressive green tree ant. Scientists think the spider may even lure the ants into attacking the trap, causing them to trigger the catapult on themselves. It’s the first known spider whose web is designed for one prey species — and the first where the prey activates the trap.
