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Spider Wasp & Prey
Unidentified Pompilidae & Oxyopes javanus
15.4556, 119.92
Field Notes
Description:
What you see in these photos is a Spider Wasp (Unidentified Pompilidae) capturing a Lynx Spider (Oxyopes javanus). According to Wikipedia, the wasp overpowers the spider by stinging it to paralyze it. When the spider is no longer able to fight back, the wasp carries it away to its burrow as food for its larvae. This "species interaction" is rather gruesome to watch and I felt sorry for the spider which had no chance of surviving this attack by a stronger predator. However, I had to remember that I have taken many photos of Lynx Spiders capturing and killing moths and butterflies. Nature seems to be cruel, but these creatures do what they do in order to eat and feed their offspring. When it comes to really terrible behaviour, we only have one species to look at - Homo sapiens.
Habitat:
This species interaction was spotted on foliage at the end of a driveway, near an old farmhouse, in the middle of some rice fields.
Notes:
I really wanted to make my spotting more complete by taking a picture of the wasp taking off, carrying the spider, but the struggle went on rather long and it was starting to become dark. So I had to call it a day, hoping that I could get the prize-winning picture next time :-)
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