Spiders Create a Decoy

FAIRFAX, Va. (January 28, 2014) – That spider may not be as big as you think. Several species of spiders in Peru have been seen making fake spiders in their webs several times larger than themselves. The spiders use molted skin, bits of plants, even leftovers from insect meals to construct the decoys.

Researchers don’t yet know why these spiders spend the energy to build decoys but because of their size, it may be a form of defense.