The Parasite & The Spider. 2011_08_06 (08.12pm) Saturday.
Millimetre ruler gives an indication of their size.
Hubby actually found this – he told me that he had found a spider eating a caterpillar.
My first thought was – been there, done that – but luckily I decided to check it out...
To my surprise it was a parasite wasp larvae that had the spider and it was 'sucking its guts out' - sorry, no better way to put it:-(
I photographed a parasite and spider set this time last year but what I captured at the weekend I did not see last year. It is sad and gruesome but shows just one of the enemies these poor little spiders (still unidentified) are up against.
As I came and went I noticed what appeared to be Braconid wasps, flying up and down this eucalyptus tree.
I will keep an eye on the wasp's cocoon to see what kind of wasp emerges.
The Parasite & The Spider. 2011_08_06 (08.12pm) Saturday.
Millimetre ruler gives an indication of their size.
Hubby actually found this – he told me that he had found a spider eating a caterpillar.
My first thought was – been there, done that – but luckily I decided to check it out...
To my surprise it was a parasite wasp larvae that had the spider and it was 'sucking its guts out' - sorry, no better way to put it:-(
I photographed a parasite and spider set this time last year but what I captured at the weekend I did not see last year. It is sad and gruesome but shows just one of the enemies these poor little spiders (still unidentified) are up against.
As I came and went I noticed what appeared to be Braconid wasps, flying up and down this eucalyptus tree.
I will keep an eye on the wasp's cocoon to see what kind of wasp emerges.