Amber reveals ecology of 30 million year old spiders
Scientists at The University of Manchester and the Manchester Metropolitan University have carried out the first comparative scientific study of ancient spiders trapped in amber more than 30 millions years ago. view more (2006-03-01)
What are 3-D spider webs for?
The classic radial or "orb" spider web captures flying insects efficiently with a small amount of silk but such flat webs leave spiders exposed to their own predators. The derived "araneoid sheet web weavers" transformed the flat orb web into, usually, three-dimensional cobwebs and sheet webs. These webs surround spiders with tangles of silk that... view more... (2003-01-02)
New species of spiders discovered by UBC scientist in Papua New Guinea
A University of British Columbia researcher has discovered dozens of species of jumping spiders that are new to science, giving scientists a peek into a section of the evolutionary tree previously thought to be sparse. view more (2009-03-25)
How parachute spiders invade new territory
Researchers have developed a new model that explains how spiders are able to 'fly' or 'parachute' into new territory on single strands of silk — sometimes covering distances of hundreds of miles over open ocean. view more (2006-07-12)
First 'mainly vegetarian' spider described
The 40,000 or so spiders that have been described are generally known as strict predators, trapping their prey in elaborate webs or hunting them down directly. view more (2009-10-13)
Predators: an overlooked player in plant-pollinator relationships
Biologists have long recognized that predators can help to shape ecological communities -- wolves promote the growth of young trees through predation on moose, otters keep kelp forests thriving by preying on sea urchins, etc. Yet we have seldom considered the consequences of predation on animals that help plants reproduce. Predation on pollinators... view more... (2003-08-13)
Tarantulas produce silk from their feet
Researchers have found for the first time that tarantulas can produce silk from their feet as well as their spinnerets, a discovery with profound implications for why spiders began to spin silk in the first place. view more (2006-09-28)
Living upside-down shapes spiders for energy saving
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Spain and Croatia led an investigation into the peculiar lifestyle of numerous spider species, which live, feed, breed and 'walk' in an upside-down hanging position. view more (2008-03-26)
Scientist brings 50 million year old spider 'back to life'
A 50-million-year-old fossilised spider has been brought back to life in stunning 3D by a scientist at The University of Manchester. view more (2007-10-30)
Ground Spider Diversity Studied in Research Project
None of Takesha Henderson's discoveries are named Charlotte, but they are weaving a new chapter in Texas entomology. Her graduate studies at Texas A&M University have led to the discovery of 25 new spiders in Brazos County and one species found for the first time in Texas. view more (2007-01-02)
UNIVERSITY SPIDER MAN CHARTS REGION`S SPECIES
A University of Plymouth lecturer has helped to compile a two-volume atlas detailing the biology, habitat and conservation of over 600 species of British spider. Peter Smithers of the Department of Biological Sciences has spent the last 20 years gathering information in Devon and Cornwall as part of the nationwide project, which was initiated in... view more... (2002-05-16)
Spider love: Little guys get lots more
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. view more (2008-12-08)
390-million-year-old scorpion fossil -- biggest bug known
The gigantic fossil claw of an 390 million-year-old sea scorpion, recently found in Germany, shows that ancient arthropods - spiders, insects, crabs and the like - were surprisingly larger than their modern-day counterparts. view more (2007-11-26)
In spiders, size matters: Small males are more often meals
Female spiders are voracious predators and consume a wide range of prey, which sometimes includes their mates. view more (2008-09-11)
Herbivory discovered in a spider
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. view more (2009-10-13)
Spiders make best ever Post-it notes
Scientists have found that the way spiders stick to ceilings could be the key to making Post-it® notes that don't fall off - even when they are wet. A team from Germany and Switzerland have made the first detailed examinations of a jumping spider's 'foot' and have discovered that a molecular force sticks the spider to almost anything. The... view more... (2004-04-15)
Evolution mystery: Spider venom and bacteria share same toxin
Biology researchers at Lewis & Clark College and the University of Arizona have found evidence for an ancient transfer of a toxin between ancestors of two very dissimilar organisms-spiders and a bacterium. view more (2006-02-02)
A rarity among arachnids, predatory whip spiders have a sociable family life, CU researcher finds
Whip spiders, considered by many to be creepy-crawly, are giving new meaning to the term touchy-feely. view more (2007-03-13)
UCR biologists unravel the genetic secrets of black widow spider silk
Biologists at the University of California, Riverside have identified the genes, and determined the DNA sequences, for two key proteins in the "dragline silk" of the black widow spider - an advance that may lead to a variety of new materials for industrial, medical and military uses. view more (2007-06-13)
How does one sex grow larger than the other?
Why are males larger than females in some animal species (such as most mammals), females larger than males in others (such as most insects), and why are the sexes alike in yet other species (such as several birds)? view more (2007-01-30)
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