SETTING A TRAP
Why stalk and chase your prey, when you can lay a trap and let the food come to you?
When it comes to setting traps in the wild, few do it better than spiders. Their silken webs are the perfect utensil for capturing unsuspecting insects and birds. However, there is one group of spiders that go the extra mile to ensnare their prey. Trapdoor spiders, of which there are hundreds of species, can be found across the globe. Unlike their web-spinning cousins, these spiders dig a burrow and thread a silken trapdoor, where they lay in wait for passing prey, typically crawling insects such as centipedes or other spiders. Tiny hairs on the legs of a trapdoor spider act like an alarm system, sensing the vibrations of outside movement. When the alarm is sounded, the spider leaps into action, pouncing from the trapdoor and biting down with its fangs to drag the body back into the burrow.
Predators’ traps aren’t always physical. Many species use different tactics to lure their prey into a false sense of security. Take the margay (Leopardus wiedii), for instance. These small jungle cats have an uncanny ability to mimic the cry of an infant monkey. Upon hearing their calls, adult monkeys scout out the supposed baby monkey, only to find the waiting margay ready to pounce.
Similarly, female Photuris fireflies, also known as ‘femme fatale’ fireflies, mimic the abdomen flashing patterns of the females of a different firefly species to lure male prey. Journeying over to what they think the flashing signal of a potential mate, the males are instead met by the mandibles of the female.