Slingshot spiders rely on good vibrations to catch supper
The tiny ray spider uses launches its web to grab its prey out of the air. Though common practice in the superhero world, this ability is actually unusual in spiders.
Spiders
Why you shouldn't worry about invasive Joro spiders
Joro spiders are spreading across the east coast. They are an invasive species that most likely arrived in shipping containers from eastern Asia. Today, we look into why some people find them scary, why to not panic about them and what their trajectory illustrates about the wider issue of invasive species.
Questions? You can also email those to shortwave@npr.org.
Questions? You can also email those to shortwave@npr.org.
Joro spiders are back in the news. Here's what the experts really think about them
Joro spiders — invasive, brightly colored, orb-weaving arachnids that have been spreading in the U.S. for the past several years — have captured the public's interest and horror once again. But spider experts say the jury's still out on the impact the spider will have.
An Amazon Delivery Driver Killed A Spider For A Grateful Customer. There's A Video
Terrified of the "huge" spider on her porch, a woman used Amazon's special instructions section to ask her delivery driver to kill it. He did, and now she's trying to find him to say "Thank you."
Extreme Weather Making Some Spiders Aggressive
Researchers have found that extreme weather events like Hurricanes Florence and Michael have a
Spiders Avoid Foods That Leave A Bad Taste
Scientists and students at Wake Forest University recently unveiled new research on spiders. It turns out these arachnids have a refined sense of taste.
When Spiders Go Airborne, It's Electric — Literally
Many spiders ply the skies by riding "balloons" of silk. And they rely on something more than just the wind to take them high up and far away.
Fossils In Amber May Provide Link Between Ancient Arachnids And Modern Spiders
Two teams of researchers are studying tailed spiders captured and preserved about 100 million years ago, which could provide evidence of the species' evolution.
Is That A Brown Recluse Spider Bite Or Skin Cancer?
Skin lesions are often misdiagnosed as a brown recluse spider bite when they're actually a tick bite or MRSA or even skin cancer. Here's how to tell the difference.
A Spider Across The Room Can 'Hear' You, Study Finds
"Based on what we know, this shouldn't be happening, but it definitely is," Harvard fellow Paul Shamble says. The researchers' finding changes what we know about how spiders experience the world.