Scientists in Australia have discovered a spider with an extraordinary hunting trick: it builds a trap that launches ants into the air like a tiny catapult.

The spider was found in the rainforests of Far North Queensland. It has been named after the ballista, an ancient Roman catapult used in warfare. The comparison fits: instead of a sticky web that passively catches prey, this spider constructs a trap held under tension — like a mousetrap waiting to spring — until an ant bumps into it and triggers the release.

Researchers reported the finding on 23 June 2026, based on work published in the journal Current Biology. ABC News covered the discovery, drawing on research from the University of Western Australia.

Most spiders build general-purpose webs. They catch whatever happens to wander in. This spider is different. It has evolved a trap designed for one specific target: the green ant, an aggressive insect that would easily defeat the spider in a direct fight. By launching the ant through the air, the spider avoids a dangerous struggle altogether.

When a green ant touches the trigger, the trap's stored energy releases and flings the ant upward. The force is extreme — Yahoo News reports accelerations comparable to a severe car crash. BBC News confirmed that the silk structure works like a catapult and that the trap targets a single ant species.

What makes this unusual is the material. The trap is made of silk — the same material in ordinary spider webs. Most spider silk absorbs energy when prey hits it, like a cushion. This spider has engineered its silk to release that energy as a launch, turning a web into a weapon.

New Scientist described the trap as resembling a snare, different from the typical webs we usually picture. Building and maintaining such an elaborate trap takes time and resources. The spider only does this because green ants are abundant and nutritious in Queensland's rainforest canopy — enough of a food source to make the investment worthwhile.

Why this matters: Far North Queensland's rainforests contain countless species we have not yet identified. This discovery shows that even in well-studied regions, nature still holds surprises. Scientists studying how the spider's silk stores and releases energy may also find clues for designing new materials and tiny mechanical devices inspired by nature.

Photographer and researcher Greg Anderson helped document the discovery, capturing video and images of the trap in action — something that happens too fast for the human eye to see without slowing it down.