All Articles Tagged As: spiders

Study: Crickets 'forewarn' unborn babies about spiders (2/21/2010)

Just because cricket moms abandon their eggs before they hatch doesn't mean they don't pass wisdom along to their babies. New research in The American Naturalist shows that crickets can warn their unborn babies about potential predator threats. ...> Full Article

New spider species discovered by University of Haifa scientists (1/12/2010)

A new and previously unknown species of spider has been discovered in the dune of the Sands of Samar in the southern Arava region by a team of scientists from the Department of Biology in the University of Haifa-Oranim. Unfortunately, however, its habitat is endangered. "The discovery of this new spider illustrates our obligation to preserve the dune," says Dr. Shanas, who headed the team of scientists. ...> Full Article

Male Australian redback spiders employ courtship strategies to preserve their life (10/26/2009)

New research shows that male suitors of a female cannibalistic spider risk facing a premature death unless they perform an adequate courtship lasting a minimum of 100 minutes. Further, the research shows that "sneaker" males can slip by and mate successfully on the courtship efforts of the hard-working first suitor. ...> Full Article

Scientists discover largest orb-weaving spider (10/23/2009)

Researchers have discovered a new, giant Nephila species (golden orb weaver spider) from Africa and Madagascar. They also reconstructed size evolution in the family Nephilidae to show that this new species, on average, is the largest orb weaver known. Only the females are giants with a body length of 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) and a leg span of 4-5 inches (10-12 centimeters); the males are tiny by comparison. ...> Full Article

Herbivory discovered in a spider (10/14/2009)

There are approximately 40,000 species of spiders in the world, all of which have been thought to be strict predators that feed on insects or other animals. Now, scientists have found that a small Central American jumping spider has a uniquely different diet: the species Bagheera kiplingi feeds predominantly on plant food. ...> Full Article

Nepotism has its benefits when it comes to survival (10/1/2009)

While nepotism may have negative connotations in politics and the workplace, being surrounded by your relatives does lead to better group dynamics and more cooperation in some animals. That seems to be the case for spiders, according to research published in the open-access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. In the study, researchers found that Stegodyphus tentoriicola spiders are far more efficient at foraging for food and cooperate better when they're related to each other. ...> Full Article

Researchers go underground to reveal 850 new species (9/29/2009)

Australian researchers have discovered a huge number of new species of invertebrate animals living in underground water, caves and "micro-caverns" amid the harsh conditions of the Australian outback. ...> Full Article

Spiders, frogs and gecko among exciting discoveries found in Papua New Guinea (3/26/2009)

Jumping spiders, a tiny chirping frog and an elegant striped gecko are among 56 species believed new to science discovered during a Conservation International Rapid Assessment Program expedition to Papua New Guinea's highlands wilderness. ...> Full Article

Moving in for the winter toxic brown recluse spiders pose danger (12/16/2008)

MU entomologist warns of the venomous brown recluse spider's bite ...> Full Article

Spider love: Little guys get lots more (12/12/2008)

Big males outperform smaller ones in head-to-head mating contests but diminutive males make ten times better lovers because they're quicker to mature and faster on their feet, a new study of redback spiders reveals.Published in the current online issue of Journal of EvolutionaryBiology, the study shows the importance of maturation in defining mating and paternity success. ...> Full Article

In spiders, size matters: Small males are more often meals (9/15/2008)

Males are more likely to be eaten if they are much smaller than females, which likely affects how easy they are to catch. ...> Full Article

Artificial Meadows And Robot Spiders Reveal Secret Life Of Bees (9/8/2008)

Ecologists have discovered that bumblebees can learn to outwit color-changing crab spiders. ...> Full Article

Researchers Show Fear of Predators Impacts the Health of Prey Populations (9/5/2008)

Predators can impact its prey without actually killing or consuming it ...> Full Article

Spiders Who Eat Together, Stay Together (8/6/2008)

The ability to work together and capture larger prey has allowed social spiders to stretch the laws of nature and reach enormous colony sizes ...> Full Article

Life in a bubble (8/4/2008)

Research shows how insects use trapped oxygen to breathe underwater ...> Full Article

Potent, Powerful Venom Cause for Concern (6/14/2008)

Toxicologist Offers Summer Bite & Sting Advice ...> Full Article

Female jumping spiders find ultraviolet B rays 'sexy' (5/3/2008)

Research provides the first evidence of an animal using ultraviolet B rays to communicate with other members of its species ...> Full Article

Tracing a spidery family tree (9/26/2007)

Insect biologists research has taken her from Scotland to Hawaii to Berkeley. ...> Full Article