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A chance sighting in a backyard birdhouse led Queen’s University researchers to a surprising discovery: some spiders stay active and hunt even when temperatures drop below freezing.

The study led by Peter Davies and Laurie Graham (Biomedical and Molecular Sciences), and published in , found that Clubiona spiders make a very strong antifreeze protein. This “hyperactive” protein has a unique shape, called a beta-solenoid fold, and the spiders produce several slightly different versions of the protein. These versions work together to block ice from forming in many directions, helping the spiders survive even deep cold.

The finding sheds light on repeated, independent evolution of antifreeze across species and suggests practical uses: winter-active spiders may help control orchard pests when other predators are dormant, and the protein could inform agricultural or biotechnical applications.

Learn more about the research in this Queen’s Gazette article.

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Andrew Carroll | Media Relations Officer | Queen’s University