Device simulates spider attack on bee

By David Pescovitz at 10:06 am Monday, Sep 8

This sequence of images depicts a bee under attack from a spider simulator. Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London, built the device to better understand how bees learn to avoid camouflaged predators. From Science News:

In the real world, the big, hard-bodied bumblebees with plenty of flight power represent a considerable challenge for crab spiders. Most of the time, the bee escapes from the attack and has a chance to learn, Ings says.

For simulating a near-death experience with a Misumena vatia crab spider, Ings and engineer consultants took inspiration from the pincers that brake a bicycle wheel. Ings worked out an electric switch with a little pair of arms that he could trigger remotely to close on a visiting bee. He cushioned the jaws with strips of household cleaning sponges, and for the full treatment, positioned a life-size plastic crab spider in a plausible color just above the pincers.

Spider attack simulator (Science News)