Scientists describe a newly documented Australian spider species that hunts aggressive ants using a spring-loaded “ballista” trap. Multiple outlets report that the spider builds a mechanism that stores energy and then releases it to fling an ant into the air toward the spider’s web. The spider appears to target a specific ant species, with the trap designed to catch prey of that type. After the ant is launched, it lands in or near the web, where the spider captures and eats it. The accounts also describe the spider’s hunting strategy as purpose-built rather than passive web-building: the trap functions like a booby-trap that increases the chances of capturing dangerous prey. Coverage from magazines and science-focused outlets highlights that the behavior has been observed and studied by researchers in Australia, and that the species is newly described by scientists. Overall reporting emphasizes the trap’s spring-loaded, catapult-like mechanics and the spider’s specialization for hunting one ant species.