Mosquito Muncher, Pt. 3 - _TNY_1115

Back in 2019 I had the pleasure of watching this juvenile raft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) run across the water surface in the rain water barrel and pick up a mosquito that had gotten stuck in the water and then how it ate it through the lenses of my camera. I say lenses because at first I was using the Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS plus Raynox DCR-250 and got a bunch of shots before shifting to the Canon MP-E65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro and getting a couple of really high magnification portraits as well.

 

This one was with the 100mm though and it was fascinating to see through the viewfinder how it kept moving the left and right chelicerae (one at the time) and retract one fang from the prey and then reinsert it before doing the same with the other. No idea what function this serves, but then I don’t usually eat that way.

 

Part 1 showing how the spider moves its chelicerae while eating here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48734313741/

 

Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50540902938/

 

Three shots of the same spider on a couple of rose petals on the water here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48506742957/, here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48684623271/ and here : www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/50507089932/

 

Much closer shot using the MP-E here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/48515193146/

 

and here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/49279649447/

Done