'Ballista Spider' Discovered in Australia

• 25 Jun 2026

In June 2026, scientists discovered a new species of cobweb spider, nicknamed the "ballista spider", in the rainforests of far north Queensland, Australia.

• The spider belongs to the genus Propostira under the cobweb spider family Theridiidae and has not yet been assigned a formal scientific name.
• It is nicknamed the "ballista spider" because its hunting mechanism resembles the ancient Roman ballista, a siege engine used to launch projectiles.
• The spider builds a silk-powered trap that stores elastic energy in tensioned silk threads and releases it instantly to launch prey into its web.
• The trap specifically targets green tree ants (Oecophylla smaragdina), which are known for their aggressive behaviour, powerful bites, and coordinated defence.