Spider Dudes Give Crappy Gifts, Trick Ladies Into Sex

Presenting females with a pre-coital gift is an essential part of the nursery web spider’s mating ritual, but researchers have discovered that some male spiders are giving their ladyfriends elaborately wrapped bits of junk, such as flower, cotton, or ant husks wrapped in silk. While the women are distracted by what’s essentially an empty box of chocolates, the guys have their way with them. Then if they’re looking for another round, they’ll play dead and spring to life when the female least expects it. We’re constantly being told that spiders are “good bugs,” but it sounds like they spend way too much time looking up freaky sex tips in spider Cosmo.

Image via Melinda Fawver/Shutterstock.