If you ever take a walk in the tropical rainforests of French Guiana in South America, you’ll encounter giant-sized spider webs. And when we say giant, we mean a size bigger than a school bus! The specialty of these webs is that they are inhabited by thousands of teeny-tiny spiders, who wait motionless for their prey to be trapped. And once the victim is trapped, they start to dance!

The Dancing Spiders

The discovery of these dancing spiders has startled scientists and ethologists. These South American arachnids are a kind of “social” spider that lives in large groups. Forming such cooperative colonies is rare for spiders. Moreover, these quarter-inch-long amber-colored predators use synchronized dance moves to overwhelm and bring down prey which can be up to 700 times heavier than the spider! Smaller than a ladybug in size, these spiders, scientifically named Anelosimus Eximius, don’t pose any threat to humans, even when hunting together. Generally, grasshoppers and moths end up as their victims.

The Logic behind the Dance

Ethologist, Raphael Jeanson, and his colleagues published a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences about their findings after observing the behavioral pattern of these spiders in their natural environment. They discovered that these arachnids make their movements coordinated and synchronized to capture their prey. To be more specific, these tiny spiders perform a pop-and-lock-style “dance!” Well, they don’t dance obviously! The movement is all about feeling for vibrations, coming both from their fellow web-mates and the tangled prey. With thousands of spiders moving differently, a loud noise is created in the web, making the spiders unable to hear the prey. That’s why they synchronize their movements to sense the hunt easily and locate the insect in the giant web more precisely. This harmonious hunt is a brilliant example of social co-working, which is rare to witness in the insect kingdom!

Owners of fancy DSLR and mirrorless cameras can now use them as high-end webcams with the help of the new software that Nikon has just released. Many big camera makers have already rolled out similar software during the past several months, especially with the rise of video calls during the past year. Nikon’s new Webcam Utility Software can easily be used via USB, and the developers say it is ideal for people seeking to create a high-quality video stream.

Nikon Says the New Software Requires No Additional Hardware

The setup for Nikon’s new software is simple and requires no other hardware. It is ideal for both video conference calls and live-streaming, making it perfect for aspiring Twitch superstars. To help its clients enhance the experience, Nikon recommends using a tripod or a clamp as a mount. Also, people can add a constant light source to their setup for better lighting, as well as an external microphone. With a high-quality camera working as a webcam, an aspiring streamer should only worry about creating good, engaging content.

The Webcam Utility Software Is Available for Both Windows 10 and macOS

Nikon offers its new software for free, at least while it is still in its beta. While a few months ago it only supported Windows devices, the software has now expanded and is compatible with both Windows 10 and macOS. The setup is as complicated as plugging in the USB cable, and once the camera is connected, it can be used for any compatible video conferencing software, including Zoom, Google Meet, Facebook Messenger, Microsoft Teams, and Skype.

Unlike existing third-party software, the Webcam Utility Software allows a wider range of Nikon cameras to be turned into webcams. It currently supports many models, including Z 7, Z 7II, Z 6, Z 6II, Z 50, Z 5, D5, D6, D500, D750, D780, D810, D850, D3500, D5300 D5500, D5600, D7200, and D7500. Nikon has also stated that the new utility will work with the company’s upcoming models