Spiders set UV traps to lure prey

News in Science - Spiders set UV traps to lure prey:


"Australian crab spiders Thomisus spectabilis come in an array of colours including pink, yellow and white and they appear to match the colour of the flower they sit on."

I won't put up any pictures of spiders incase you are arachnophobic but crab spiders come in an assortment of colours and not just because they are fashion conscious or trying to colour co ordinate with the flowers. We do have some amazing spiders here. Crab spiders are somewhat translucent and are using UV reflection to attract and trap their prey. Cunning!! Dr. Marie Herberstein from Macquarie University has been studying these colour conscious spiders. She even put suncreen on them to test her theories. I figure that is just adding to the rave tendencies of the already image distracted spiders!