ballista

"The ballista spider's snare is bioengineered to store elastic energy in the silk and rapidly release it, giving it incredible instantaneous power density -- greater than any other specialized silk-based biological catapults," said Professor Narendra.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026

During daylight hours, the ballista spider remains hidden beneath a leaf positioned above areas where green tree ants are actively foraging.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026

Though it is yet to be formally named, scientists have nicknamed the tiny spider "ballista", after the ancient weapon used to hurl stones in battle.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Although many people have identified the scorpion as a type of ballista, it lacks the torsion springs that ballistae use to thrust their projectile forward with such incredible force.

From Slate ● May 7, 2019

He imagined a bunch of demigods in dark robes trying to quietly roll a scorpion ballista through the front doors.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

“Scorpions,” ballistae developed by Hand of the Queen Qyburn, posed the primary threat to Drogon.

From Slate ● May 13, 2019

Although many people have identified the scorpion as a type of ballista, it lacks the torsion springs that ballistae use to thrust their projectile forward with such incredible force.

From Slate ● May 7, 2019

She’d paced the deck of their flying warship, the Argo II, checking and double-checking the ballistae to make sure they were locked down.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Piper paced back and forth between the mainmast and the ballistae, practicing her lines.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

If Annabeth could get on board, she could use the ballistae; but there was no way to get around these three Romans.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan