A Matter of Life and Death

jgknight · Post by **jgknight** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 3:56 pm

These are have been mounted previously and I thought I would have some fun them.

Nothing puts fear into a Huntsman Spider like a Spider-Hunting Wasp.
The wasp quickly paralyzes the spider, takes it back to the nest and lays her eggs inside the spider so that the new born wasps have a meal waiting for them.
These wasps are not frightened to attack a spider much larger than themselves.

Taken using a combination of PMax and Dmap in Zerene Stacker.
Canon 30D with Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:37 pm

Thanks for the info and pictures!
Thus the spider keeps paralyzed but alive until the eggs hatch? Ouch...
Is it also possible that the huntsman grabs the wasp?

Regards,
Barry

jgknight · Post by **jgknight** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:40 am

Barry wrote:Thanks for the info and pictures!
Thus the spider keeps paralyzed but alive until the eggs hatch? Ouch...
Is it also possible that the huntsman grabs the wasp? Regards, Barry

Maybe, not sure. These wasps are usually found hovering around the grass and lawn looking for their prey. I suppose a fast spider could turn the tables on the wasp.

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 4:36 am

Fantastic shots. Very nice colors too.