📰 Daily Current Affairs | 24 June 2026

Ballista Spider Discovered in Queensland Rainforests

New spider species uses spring-loaded web trap to launch green tree ants

A new spider species nicknamed the ballista spider has been discovered in the rainforests of far north Queensland, Australia. The spider belongs to the genus Propostira in the cobweb spider family Theridiidae, and it has not yet received a formal scientific name.

🔬 Taxonomy and Classification

The ballista spider is placed in the family Theridiidae, which is commonly known as the cobweb spider family. The genus Propostira includes spiders that build irregular webs and use silk-based prey capture methods.

🕷️ Hunting Mechanism

The spider uses a spring-loaded web trap to launch green tree ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) into its web. The trap is triggered when the ant bites a silk cone, releasing stored elastic energy rapidly. The ants have been recorded with accelerations of up to 1,367 metres per second squared, which is about 140 times the force of gravity.

🔭 Research and Observation

The behaviour was first observed in 2022 by biomedical researcher Greg Anderson. Detailed study was captured in early 2023 by Professor Ajay Narendra and postgraduate student Pranav Joshi using high-speed and infrared cameras. Researchers from Macquarie University and the University of Greifswald described the hunting strategy in Current Biology.

⭐ Important Facts for Exams

  • Oecophylla smaragdina is the scientific name of the green tree ant.
  • Theridiidae is the spider family commonly called cobweb spiders.
  • High-speed and infrared cameras are used to observe rapid animal movements.
  • Spider silk is a protein-based material known for high tensile strength and elasticity.
  • Research published in: Current Biology journal.

📝 Practice Questions

Q1. In which country was the ballista spider discovered?

a) India
b) Brazil
c) Australia
d) South Africa

✅ Correct Answer: c) Australia

Q2. To which spider family does the ballista spider belong?

a) Araneidae
b) Theridiidae
c) Salticidae
d) Lycosidae

✅ Correct Answer: b) Theridiidae

Q3. What is the scientific name of the green tree ant targeted by the ballista spider?

a) Camponotus compressus
b) Oecophylla smaragdina
c) Solenopsis invicta
d) Formica rufa

✅ Correct Answer: b) Oecophylla smaragdina

Q4. What acceleration (in multiples of gravity) was recorded in green tree ants launched by the ballista spider's trap?

a) About 50 times gravity
b) About 100 times gravity
c) About 140 times gravity
d) About 200 times gravity

✅ Correct Answer: c) About 140 times gravity

Q5. In which journal was the ballista spider's hunting strategy described?

a) Nature
b) Science
c) Current Biology
d) PLOS ONE

✅ Correct Answer: c) Current Biology