Orb Weaver Spider Behavior and Survival

The video explains how certain spiders can catapult themselves using stored energy in their legs, allowing them to escape predators quickly. This mechanism is particularly crucial for male orb weaver spiders, which use it to avoid being eaten by their mates after mating. A 2022 study showed that all males using this technique survived, while those prevented from launching were eaten. Despite the risks, males often return for multiple mating rounds using a silk line to bungee back to the female's web.

How do certain spiders achieve rapid propulsion into the air?

• By flapping their wings

• By storing energy in their legs

• By using their web as a slingshot

• By jumping from high places

What is the primary reason orb weaver spiders launch themselves after mating?

• To catch prey

• To avoid being eaten by the female

• To build a new web

• To find a new partner

What was the outcome for male orb weavers that did not use the launching technique?

• They successfully escaped

• They built a new web

• They found another mate

• They were eaten by the female

How do male orb weavers return to the female's web after launching?

• They fly back

• They walk back

• They use a silk line to bungee back

• They are carried by the wind

How many additional mating rounds can male orb weavers typically engage in after their initial escape?

• Up to two more rounds

• Up to eight more rounds

• Up to six more rounds

• Up to four more rounds