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| | Welcome to our newest member, ratneck7 | |  | | 
28-10-2009, 07:10 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 137
| | | Spider versus Wasp
Those of you that have spoken to me before will know how I'm struggling to get my head around spiders, so I thought I would tell you about the spider I was watching today.
On one of the windows at work is a huge garden spider (sorry guys, no scientific name). Struggling in it's web was a huge wasp - queen? - which the spider had already partially wrapped. After I had been watching for a while the spider scurried down to the wasp and wrapped it up tighter before starting to drag it to the top of the web. The wasp was the same size as the spider, and was moving, but the spider still managed to pull it up.
It was one of those moments when you just wish you had a camera.
Why didn't the wasp sting the spider? 
Why didn't the spider kill the wasp straight away? |
28-10-2009, 09:03 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 209
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
I would imagine the wasp would have stung the spider had it got the opportunity but spiders are adept at manipulating prey caught in the webs so that their body doesn't get too near. Also, the prey is turned around during its restraint about and so is confused.
Having wrapped the wasp sufficiently to restrain it, it may be sensible to let the wasp struggle and tire itself to ease the fight later. Also, I have read that some spiders deliver a quick bite early in the struggle then draw back to let the venom take effect. |
28-10-2009, 09:10 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: North Norfolk
Posts: 1,420
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
Not keen on spiders but think its amazing the way they wrap their prey and drag it off. Pity you didn't get any pictures. |
28-10-2009, 09:41 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 137
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
That explains why the spider had left the wasp for so long. Thanks. Ain't nature grand? |
28-10-2009, 09:46 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South East Coast
Posts: 1,846
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
>>>>Why didn't the wasp sting the spider?<<<<
It may have been a male! Male wasps don't sting 
D.
__________________
Nature never goes out of style. |
28-10-2009, 09:52 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: S. Devon
Posts: 3,668
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
I've seen wasps deliberately robbing spider's webs of prey which they carry off in their legs. But one wasp got too ambitious and tried the same trick on a large Arraneus diadematus (Garden Spider); and came off second best, like your description. |
28-10-2009, 10:57 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 137
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutchess  >>>>Why didn't the wasp sting the spider?<<<<
It may have been a male! Male wasps don't sting
D. | Well, I never knew that.  That's my fave new piece of knowledge of the day. Thanks. |
29-10-2009, 11:16 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Whichever island I'm on at the time :)
Posts: 351
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutchess Male wasps don't sting
D. | Fascinating.........but......why not?
Curiously,
Andestine |
29-10-2009, 11:29 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South East Coast
Posts: 1,846
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
The sting is actually a modified ovipositor - which the males do not possess 
D.
__________________
Nature never goes out of style. |
29-10-2009, 11:31 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants.
Posts: 11,275
| | | Re: Spider versus Wasp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andestine Fascinating.........but......why not?
Curiously,
Andestine | This is a guess but I think its the ovipositor that has the sting males dont have one as they don't lay eggs..
I could be wrong... | | | |
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