'Veggie' spider shuns meat diet

w1z4rd

w1z4rd

Karmic Sangoma
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A spider that dines almost exclusively on plants has been described by scientists.

It is the first-known predominantly vegetarian spider; all of the other known 40,000 spider species are thought to be mainly carnivorous.

Bagheera kiplingi, which is found in Central America and Mexico, bucks the meat-eating trend by feasting on acacia plants.

The research is published in the journal Current Biology.

The herbivorous spider was filmed on high-definition camera.

Running the gauntlet

The jumping arachnid, which is 5-6mm long, has developed a taste for the tips of the acacia plants - known as Beltian bodies - which are packed full of protein.

But to reach this leafy fare, the spider has to evade the attention of ants, which live in the hollow spines of the tree.

The ants and acacia trees have co-evolved to form a mutually beneficial relationship: the aggressive ants protect the trees from predators, swarming to attack any invaders; and in return for acting as bodyguards, the ants get to gorge on the acacias' Beltian bodies themselves.

But the crafty Bagheera kiplingi has found a way to exploit this symbiotic relationship.

One of the study's authors, Professor Robert Curry, from Villanova University, Pennsylvania, told BBC News: "The spiders basically dodge the ants.
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Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8302535.stm
Veggie spider, lol.
 
Just the other day I was wondering whether all spiders were carnivores. This answers my Q :D
 
And Professor Curry added: "Because the plants are protected by ants, they have none of their own chemical defences that other plants do."
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So, the plant relying on the ants has exposed the plant to the weaknesses of the ants. Interesting.

Kinda like how our money grabbing government relies on the poor to keep them in power. But, the poor have weaknesses that can be exploited in exactly the same way that our money grabbing government did.

Spiders and plants. Go figure.
 
That spider wouldnt have long hair by any chance? Hippie arachnids.. what is this world coming to?
 
davemc said:
So, the plant relying on the ants has exposed the plant to the weaknesses of the ants. Interesting.

Kinda like how our money grabbing government relies on the poor to keep them in power. But, the poor have weaknesses that can be exploited in exactly the same way that our money grabbing government did.

Spiders and plants. Go figure.
Click to expand...

I disagree :D

The ants and the plants have a symbiotic relationship. Both plant and ant benefit from the relationship.

With government and poor people its a parasitic relationship. The government tics get fatter, but at the expense of the poor :D
 
Hmmm...I am even more intrigued to see that it is a Jumping Spider.
They have shown to be more intelligent in regards to hunting methods and strategy than most other spiders.
 
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