danse macabre

There seem to have been an abnormal number of spiders around this season. I spotted the mantis caught in a web when I went outside with my torch to scare off possums coming to eat my persimmons. I thought it would be an interesting photo so went back inside to get my camera and flash. I was using my macro lens and saw there was a spider still at work with the praying mantis. I took several photos hoping for a good shot and to practice my flash techniques. Then it turned around and I was really shocked as it was a red-back!! A nasty very poisonous spider, closely related to the black widow found elsewhere. So I backed off a bit and took a few more photos.

 

I will be a lot more careful about wearing my gardening gloves in future!!

 

Explore: Apr 3, 2010 #455

Done