Photograph by Kurt Andreas.
Photography contest, Honorable Mention.
Episyron biguttatus -- spider wasp predating on Araneus diadematus -- garden spider, New Paltz, N.Y., August 20, 2011.
13 Comments
https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad · 28 January 2013
Wouldn't especially want that thing buzzing around the house.
My two favorite groups of animals are spiders and wasps, so pompilids (so-called "spider wasps") are pretty much my favorite animals ever! :)
Tenncrain · 28 January 2013
apokryltaros said:
A spider getting the kiss of death?
Maybe not right away, spider is just paralyzed - until it is later eaten alive by the wasp larva.
Somewhat ironic the adult wasps feed only on flower nectar, adult wasp only captures prey for wasp larva (the few times the spider wins the battle, the spider eats the wasp).
Paul Burnett · 28 January 2013
Tenncrain said: (the few times the spider wins the battle, the spider eats the wasp).
Spiders don't exactly "eat" their prey, in the context of ripping off and gobbling bite-size chunks: "Spiders have a narrow gut that can only cope with liquid food... They use one of two different systems of external digestion. Some pump digestive enzymes from the midgut into the prey and then suck the liquified tissues of the prey into the gut, eventually leaving behind the empty husk of the prey. Others grind the prey to pulp... - Wikipedia, Spider - Feeding, digestion and excretion
Just Bob · 28 January 2013
Reminds me of one of my favorite Robert Frost poems:
Design
I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth --
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth --
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.
------------------------------------
What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.
Robert Frost
Paul Burnett · 29 January 2013
Just Bob quoted Robert Frost:
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.
Along comes Mr. Flyswatter to met out justice to any and all concerned.
Frank B · 30 January 2013
On second thought that wasp might need something heavier.
someotherguy86 · 31 January 2013
Frank B - Whatever you use, just make sure that it gets the job done the first time, since you may not get a second chance! Stings from a pompilid wasp rate near the very top of Schmidt's Sting Pain Index. He describes the sensation as, "Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair drier has been dropped into your bubble bath."
Bobsie · 31 January 2013
No need to fear folks. Going by the date of the photo, I would presume this wasp has already met his demise, naturally.
Paul Burnett · 31 January 2013
Bobsie said:
No need to fear folks. Going by the date of the photo, I would presume this wasp has already met his demise, naturally.
That would be "her" demise.
Henry · 1 February 2013
Paul Burnett said:
Tenncrain said: (the few times the spider wins the battle, the spider eats the wasp).
Spiders don't exactly "eat" their prey, in the context of ripping off and gobbling bite-size chunks: "Spiders have a narrow gut that can only cope with liquid food... They use one of two different systems of external digestion. Some pump digestive enzymes from the midgut into the prey and then suck the liquified tissues of the prey into the gut, eventually leaving behind the empty husk of the prey. Others grind the prey to pulp... - Wikipedia, Spider - Feeding, digestion and excretion
13 Comments
https://me.yahoo.com/a/JxVN0eQFqtmgoY7wC1cZM44ET_iAanxHQmLgYgX_Zhn8#57cad · 28 January 2013
Wouldn't especially want that thing buzzing around the house.
But if it were to clear out the spiders, hmmm....
Glen Davidson
apokryltaros · 28 January 2013
A spider getting the kiss of death?
someotherguy86 · 28 January 2013
My two favorite groups of animals are spiders and wasps, so pompilids (so-called "spider wasps") are pretty much my favorite animals ever! :)
Tenncrain · 28 January 2013
Paul Burnett · 28 January 2013
Just Bob · 28 January 2013
Reminds me of one of my favorite Robert Frost poems:
Design
I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth --
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth --
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.
------------------------------------
What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?--
If design govern in a thing so small.
Robert Frost
Paul Burnett · 29 January 2013
Frank B · 30 January 2013
Along comes Mr. Flyswatter to met out justice to any and all concerned.
Frank B · 30 January 2013
On second thought that wasp might need something heavier.
someotherguy86 · 31 January 2013
Frank B - Whatever you use, just make sure that it gets the job done the first time, since you may not get a second chance! Stings from a pompilid wasp rate near the very top of Schmidt's Sting Pain Index. He describes the sensation as, "Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair drier has been dropped into your bubble bath."
Bobsie · 31 January 2013
No need to fear folks. Going by the date of the photo, I would presume this wasp has already met his demise, naturally.
Paul Burnett · 31 January 2013
Henry · 1 February 2013