Comments on: Spider creates "decoy" of self http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 17:42:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Charles Lindsey http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1613776 Charles Lindsey Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1613776 No, the decoys serve to distract predators, as has been shown in other studies of species Cyclosa. Parasitic wasps target the fake, or fakes, and thus the real spider can get away. Its victims are tiny flying insects that get caught because they blunder into a web they can't see; the spider pinata would do nothing for them. No, the decoys serve to distract predators, as has been shown in other studies of species Cyclosa. Parasitic wasps target the fake, or fakes, and thus the real spider can get away. Its victims are tiny flying insects that get caught because they blunder into a web they can’t see; the spider pinata would do nothing for them.

]]> By: Mandy Skinner http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1613069 Mandy Skinner Fri, 21 Dec 2012 03:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1613069 Ha...that is exactly what I said! Ha…that is exactly what I said!

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612672 wysinwyg Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612672  THANK YOU  THANK YOU

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612671 wysinwyg Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612671 http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=308 The best part is the Green Goblin's socks. http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=308

The best part is the Green Goblin’s socks.

]]> By: Andrew Kay http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612583 Andrew Kay Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612583 Does this mean spiders can count to 8? Does this mean spiders can count to 8?

]]> By: laen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612575 laen Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612575  Same thing as in fashion gigantic squirrels out of acorn shells?  Same thing as in fashion gigantic squirrels out of acorn shells?

]]> By: Stuart Hancock http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612557 Stuart Hancock Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612557 I've seen this one before.  In fact, there are four of them in my bathroom right now. I’ve seen this one before.  In fact, there are four of them in my bathroom right now.

]]> By: zotlerg http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612532 zotlerg Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612532 I'm sure David Attenburough showed this on tv years ago. I’m sure David Attenburough showed this on tv years ago.

]]> By: Sceadugenga http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612521 Sceadugenga Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612521 The spider knows what it looks like the same way a leaf-mimic insect knows what a leaf looks like. The leaf-mimic insects that didn't do a good enough job developing into a form that looks like a leaf were eaten up, and the spiders that didn't do a good enough job mindlessly, mechanically producing a decoy didn't get enough food to survive. The spider knows what it looks like the same way a leaf-mimic insect knows what a leaf looks like. The leaf-mimic insects that didn’t do a good enough job developing into a form that looks like a leaf were eaten up, and the spiders that didn’t do a good enough job mindlessly, mechanically producing a decoy didn’t get enough food to survive.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612515 oasisob1 Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612515 Sadly, many will have to die before the new species is formally named. From the article (slightly paraphrased): "We think it's a new species, but to be sure, we'll have to cut of their junk and study it." Sadly, many will have to die before the new species is formally named. From the article (slightly paraphrased):

“We think it’s a new species, but to be sure, we’ll have to cut of their junk and study it.”

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612473 SedanChair Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612473 Next they'll find a spider that lures flies into a tiny hall of mirrors. Next they’ll find a spider that lures flies into a tiny hall of mirrors.

]]> By: PathogenAntifreeze http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612445 PathogenAntifreeze Thu, 20 Dec 2012 06:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612445 And we shall call it the Great Oz Spider. And we shall call it the Great Oz Spider.

]]> By: tsoyptc http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612387 tsoyptc Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612387 okay... but HOW DOES THE SPIDER KNOW WHAT he/she LOOKS LIKE.??? This demonstrates a degree of self-awareness beyond what I would have ever have attributed to a spider. this is unnerving. awesome. but *unnerving* [edited for spelling] okay… but HOW DOES THE SPIDER KNOW WHAT he/she LOOKS LIKE.???

This demonstrates a degree of self-awareness beyond what I would have ever have attributed to a spider.

this is unnerving. awesome. but *unnerving*

[edited for spelling]

]]> By: corydodt http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612322 corydodt Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612322 That was my take on it as well. It's trying to confuse VICTIMS, not predators. That was my take on it as well. It’s trying to confuse VICTIMS, not predators.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612316 ocker3 Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612316  So, the spider has no ability to move to a spot perpindicular to the web and review it's work??  So, the spider has no ability to move to a spot perpindicular to the web and review it’s work??

]]> By: Aurvara http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612299 Aurvara Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612299 Soon we'll find out it was actually a couple of guys with a plank and some rope doing them during the night Soon we’ll find out it was actually a couple of guys with a plank and some rope doing them during the night

]]> By: blindwanderer http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612265 blindwanderer Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612265 Sounds interesting but my initial searches turned up little, could you point us in the right direction? Sounds interesting but my initial searches turned up little, could you point us in the right direction?

]]> By: Finnagain http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612263 Finnagain Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612263 That's not debris.. That's a spider ship! Looks like they got their scale messed up in transit. That’s not debris.. That’s a spider ship! Looks like they got their scale messed up in transit.

]]> By: blindwanderer http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612260 blindwanderer Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612260 The Nazca lines, the spider effigy or both? Are the Nazca lines supposed to scare off condors, spirits, gods or aliens? Is the spider trying to scare off predators or is it worshiping the great spider god? One does wonder if only for the sake of suspending disbelief. I have to admit the resemblance to the Nazca lines struck me immediately. It either proves that given enough time, nature will produce anything, or that even simple creatures can produce art. The Nazca lines, the spider effigy or both? Are the Nazca lines supposed to scare off condors, spirits, gods or aliens? Is the spider trying to scare off predators or is it worshiping the great spider god? One does wonder if only for the sake of suspending disbelief.

I have to admit the resemblance to the Nazca lines struck me immediately. It either proves that given enough time, nature will produce anything, or that even simple creatures can produce art.

]]> By: Ian Wood http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612233 Ian Wood Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612233 Red squirrels do the same thing with mud and acorn shells. Red squirrels do the same thing with mud and acorn shells.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612230 Felton / Moderator Wed, 19 Dec 2012 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612230 Maybe it's more of an insignia; a coat of arms, if you will. Maybe it’s more of an insignia; a coat of arms, if you will.

]]> By: liquidstar http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612222 liquidstar Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612222 The spider was once bitten by a radioactive human sculpter.... The spider was once bitten by a radioactive human sculpter….

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612220 Felton / Moderator Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612220 I'm still waiting for Spidey to paralyze an enemy with his venomous bite.  Maybe it'll be in the next movie. I’m still waiting for Spidey to paralyze an enemy with his venomous bite.  Maybe it’ll be in the next movie.

]]> By: Nadreck http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612207 Nadreck Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612207 Spidey did this way back in "Amazing Spiderman" #25 when he left behind a web-duplicate of himself trapped in the Spider Slayer robot to fool J.J.J. "Does whatever a spider can...." Spidey did this way back in “Amazing Spiderman” #25 when he left behind a web-duplicate of himself trapped in the Spider Slayer robot to fool J.J.J.

“Does whatever a spider can….”

]]> By: Randy Walters http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612203 Randy Walters Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612203 If this is for real, it's pretty astonishing. If this is for real, it’s pretty astonishing.

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612201 Jim Saul Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612201 Maybe the decoy is for flying predators. Maybe the decoy is for flying predators.

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612199 Mitchell Glaser Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612199 We're back in the car. We’re back in the car.

]]> By: Mitchell Glaser http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612198 Mitchell Glaser Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612198 Really strange, as from the spider's point of view it wouldn't look like a spider. Kind of like the Nazca lines. Really strange, as from the spider’s point of view it wouldn’t look like a spider. Kind of like the Nazca lines.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612196 Felton / Moderator Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612196 Clever girl. Clever girl.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2012/12/19/spider-creates-decoy-of-se.html#comment-1612190 Brainspore Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=201542#comment-1612190 Oh shit the real spider is RIGHT BEHIND Y— Oh shit the real spider is RIGHT BEHIND Y—

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