(For Maggie) You can fool some..

...people, but you can't fool this spider. Knowing Maggie would love to see a spider with a wasp, and not wanting to wish the death of one by being caught in a web, I went in search of an already dead specimen. I found a recently dead one in my greenhouse and placed it on a spider's web and simulated a struggle with a piece of straw. The spider obliged by rushing out of its hiding place. I took a couple of images in the time it decided the wasp wasn't alive and went back to its den.

I don't condone this stage managed type of image normally, but it was done as a light hearted attempt to please a lady.

I just hope the spider wasn't too disappointed in missing out on a meal. In mitigation it had caught a cranefly a few hours previously.
See below.

Sigma SD14 dslr
Sigma 50 EX macro lens
Sigma ring flash
Hand held
F18
1/160s
ISO50
Manual focus
RAW adjustment in
SPP3.5
Cropped in PS Elements 5
Framed in Xara Xtreme Pro 5

Here is the spider with the cranefly.

Sigma SD14 dslr
Sigma 50 EX macro lens
Sigma ring flash
Hand held
F18
1/160s
ISO50
Manual focus
RAW adjustment in
SPP3.5
Cropped in PS Elements 5
Framed in Xara Xtreme Pro 5

interesting shots David and I suspect you had to be very quick to get your wasp shot. I found a couple of dead hoverflies on the windowsill of my conservatory this morning and rather then put them in the bin I thought I'd put them in a cobweb in the garden as a possible snack for a spider. However, as with your spider, it rushed out and then realised it wasn't anything interesting and rushed back again. I would be interested to know why. The hoverflies had only died overnight so presumably hadn't completely dried out. What is is about live flies that spiders like so much?

Matt

Well David what can I say? The lady appreciates the effort you have gone to. Its my birthday on Saturday so I'll have this as an early present Actually I hate spiders as well but enjoy photographing them. I think since I started photographing insects I am getting a little more used to them.

Hello Matt. Thanks for your interesting comment. Your altruism does you credit, even if the spider didn't appreciate it. I would think that dead insects start to dry out fairly quickly, at this time of year, and the spider would have difficulty in finding any fluid that hadn't congealed. It does demonstrate that spiders must have some sort of thought process that controls their reaction to what is captured in their webs, so as not to waste too much energy on non edible material. Fascinating.



Congratulations Maggie on your forthcoming birthday.
Turn you hate into tolerance then love and your world will be an even better place.

you're probably right David, although it's particularly impressive how quickly the spider can work out that it's not worth bothering with.

Maggie, a few more spider shots and you'll soon be addicted (or obsessed as my wife calls it )

Matt

Great capture and I have watched spiders do this with live prey,they spin the stunned prey and wrap them up in seconds amazing to watch, Love these images and great capture's David

Interesting story and a nice capture.