Spiders - News and Scientific Articles on Live Science

Creep Show: 410-Million-Year-Old Spider Walks Again

By Tia Ghose published 9 July 14

The gait of a 410-million-year-old precursor to spiders has been recreated based on fossilized specimens.

Social Web: Female Spiders Adopt 'Warrior' or 'Nanny' Roles

By Charles Q. Choi published 16 June 14

Spiders Pose as Bird Poop to Evade Predators

By Tanya Lewis published 29 May 14

Many animals camouflage themselves to avoid being eaten by predators, but few are as strange as a spider that disguises itself as bird poop.

In Images: Spiders Camouflage Themselves as Bird Poop

By Tanya Lewis published 29 May 14

Orb-web spiders use their body color and web decorations to masquerade as bird droppings to avoid predators.

Why Spider Fangs Are Nature's Perfect Needles

By Tanya Lewis published 27 May 14

A spider's fangs are natural injection needles, making them perfectly suited for piercing the skeletons of their prey and delivering a kiss of venom.

Yellow sac spider, mazda, gasoline, gas tank, spider invasion

Jiggy Mazda and the Spiders from Cars (Op-Ed)

By Chris Buddle published 2 May 14

Food vs. Sex: Why Some Female Spiders Eat Males Before Mating

By Megan Gannon published 23 April 14

Certain female spiders are infamous for eating their partners after sex, but some actually pounce on suitors, fangs first, before mating ever occurs.

8-Legged Nightmares? The World's 3 Deadliest Spiders

By Tanya Lewis published 1 April 14

Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of more people than spiders. The eight-legged beasts boast a menacing appearance, and some of them pack a deadly, poisonous bite.

Female Spiders Judge Mates by Their Gift Wrap

By Megan Gannon published 3 February 14

Male Spiders Must Twerk — or Be Eaten

By Stephanie Pappas published 17 January 14

Crazy! Spider Launches Slingshot Web to Snag Prey (Video)

By Tia Ghose published 14 January 14

A tiny, unassuming spider in the Peruvian Amazon uses its entire web as a slingshot to capture slow-moving insects such as mosquitoes.

In Photos: Spiders Hatched from Web Towers

By Tia Ghose published 3 January 14

Strange circular towers found in the Amazon jungle were made by spiders to hatch their eggs, new research found. But the spider species that made the towers remains a mystery.

Progradungula Otwayensis Spider and Ladder-Shaped Web

Spider Traps Prey Using Amazing Ladder Webs

By Nina Sen published 6 November 13

Scientists discovered an "odd-clawed" spider that traps its prey using a fascinating ladder-shaped web.

Ancient 'Mega-Clawed' Creature Had Brain Like a Spider's

By Denise Chow published 16 October 13

Tiny Wandering Spider Discovered in Laos

By Tia Ghose published 31 July 13

The unobtrusive little arachnid is a wandering spider that catches prey without weaving a web.

Smart Spiders Learn Best Way to Snag Prey

By Stephanie Pappas published 28 May 13

Spiders have spatial learning abilities, new research finds.

Bat-Eating Spiders Are Everywhere, Study Finds

By Charles Q. Choi published 15 March 13

Every continent except Antarctica boasts spiders that eat bats.

Spider Silk-Spinning Technique Key to Stronger Fibers

By Charles Q. Choi published 10 January 13

The electrical conductivity of the new fibers is on par with copper, gold and aluminum wires.

Jeepers, Peepers: Why Spiders Have So Many Eyes

By Stephanie Pappas published 17 October 12

Not all spider eyes are created equal.

Abundance of Spiders Weaving Scores of Webs

By Vickie Frantz published 25 September 12

Above average temperatures across the nation led to more insects.