Some spider species eat their siblings, particularly when meals is scarce
David VILLA/SCIENCEIMAGE CBI CNRS
A species of spider avoids cannibalising its siblings whereas they’re alive, however doesn’t appear to have qualms about consuming its brethren as quickly as they die. This means some spiders come to tolerate each other by studying to recognise a chemical or mechanical “life sign”, which may very well be a key piece to understanding the evolution of uncommon social spiders.
Raphaël Jeanson on the College of Toulouse in…