Wasp versus Spider

missgecko · Post by **missgecko** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:15 am

A wasp taking on a poor spider that was minding its own business in a tree (huntsman I think). Apparently they are parasitic wasps that paralyse the spider, lay its eggs on the host and when the wasp grubs hatch, they devour the still paralysed spider. It moved extremely fast along the ground dragging the spider along until it reached the fence, dragged it up the fence and then took off somewhere. I was scurrying along the ground snapping madly so it's a miracle I actually got one fairly clear shot.

Cheers

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:02 pm

This is an excellent shot, never mind the circumstances.

And I agree, getting it under the circumstances is nothing short of miraculous.

At least the few times I've seen stuff like this, it was all over so quickly I could barely get my eyes focused, let alone a camera.

Nice job!

--Rik

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:47 pm

Yay for the wasp! That is a great shot.

missgecko · Post by **missgecko** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:47 pm

Thanks guys - it was reassuring to find that I can still move quite fast when I have to and this included racing back into the house to get my camera.

I never knew wasps attacked spiders until this happened.

Cheers

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:21 am

Excellent find and photo Missgecko. My neighbors often times stare at me like I am crazy as I run around the yard chasing unseen things in the yard and suddenly falling to the ground. We have a rather large orange and black wasp here in the Northeast USA (a thread-waisted wasp) which goes after rather large grasshoppers.
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