Araneophagic assassin bugs choose routes that minimize risk of detection by web-building spiders

► Stenolemus giraffa assassin bugs pursue dangerous web-building spiders as prey. ► Risk of detection from prey is higher in pursuits that entail greater contact with the web. ► High-risk routes are avoided by Stenolemus giraffa when low-risk routes are available. ► Stenolemus giraffa's predatory strategy appears tuned to prey perception.