Spider mine

The 52-QDMM spider mine is a type of terran self-propelled, area-denial ordnance.

Technical Details
A spider mine burrows into the ground when deployed. When a target enters the range of its motion sensors, it digs itself out and moves above ground to the target and detonates. Groups of mines can share sensor data making it difficult to traverse a spider mine field undetected. Terran infantry traditionally mistrust the mine's IFF.

History
Spider mines were developed on Earth, and are one of the few technologies to survive the Long Sleep. Mines were deployed during the Guild Wars. One of the most proficient users was Victor Kachinsky, who became a Kel-Morian war hero as a result. Equipping vultures with spider mines became more popular in the late 2490's, especially on border worlds.

The 52-QDMM spider mine was in service by the Second Great War. These mines have occasionally been seen engaging in scuffles with one another.

Culture
In 2499, Jaunt Pictures published the holomovie, Spider Mines IV: Death from Below, about sentient mines that turned against their creators. It was the last in the series.

StarCraft II
Spider mines are an ability for the vulture in the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty campaign for Raynor's Raiders. Raynor in Co-op Missions can also use them.

Nova Covert Ops
In Nova Covert Ops, spider mines may be deployed by siege tanks, ravens and reapers.

Development
Spider mines were removed as of April 2009. They were not implemented in multiplayer due to its buffing of siege tank lines.

For Heart of the Swarm, Blizzard considered giving the thor an aerial spider mine ability, in order to allow it to better defend mineral clusters. This concept did not make it into the game.

Heroes of the Storm
Spider mines appear in Heroes of the Storm as an ability used by Sergeant Hammer.

Trivia

 * Spider mines appear as enemies in the Blizzard legacy game Blackthorne.
 * Spider mines make a high-pitched squeaking when triggered. This, coupled with their burrowed nature, is reminiscent of the titular killer robots from Screamers.
 * Spider mines have a unusual immunity to nuclear explosions.
 * Although they are structures, they are not affected by the building armor upgrade.