Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. Scientists now know some spiders are smart enough to do both, bringing fresh meaning to the famous quote from poet Sir Walter Scott.

UNDATED (WKRC) - Bad news everyone: spiders are smart. Scary smart. A recent study found that spiders intentionally capture specific bugs in their webs to attract other creatures, including ...

Scientists discovered that certain spiders can force trapped fireflies to mimic the light signals of female insects, allowing them to lure and trap other males. Reading time: Reading time 3 minutes ...

An unassuming orb-weaving spider common across China, Japan, and Korea seems to have the powers of a master manipulator. The result? More male fireflies, lured to the spider's web, by way of a ...

Once orb-weaver spiders ensnare male fireflies in their webs, they turn the doomed insects into bait, using their telltale flashing to lure in more meals. In a stretch of farmland in Hubei Province, ...

In China, the arachnids seem to somehow manipulate the flashing of a caught male firefly to resemble a female’s come-hither signal. Once this spider gets a firefly ...

(CNN) — In the paddy fields and around the ponds of central China, a common species of orb-weaving spider builds new webs every evening at sunset, allowing it to entrap fireflies that begin to flash, ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. As the insect sentinels of summer, fireflies use their glowing ...

Sheetweb spiders don't immediately pounce on fireflies caught in their webs, and for good reason, according to new research. Reading time 2 minutes Fireflies glow to attract mates. As new research ...

Sometimes fireflies shouldn’t follow the light. A single flash from a female usually helps male Abscondita terminalis fireflies find her among tall grasses at dusk. Males are showier, giving off ...

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. In the paddy fields ...

Ecologists have observed a species of nocturnal spider attracting prey to its web using the bioluminescent beacons of already trapped fireflies. This rare example of a predator exploiting its prey's ...