Grasshopper and Spider interaction in Australia

bugman

January 22nd, 2011 at 7:22 am

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The Grasshopper and the spider
Location: Healesville, Victoria Australia
January 21, 2011 3:55 pm
I had this cute little drama played out the other day and thought you might like to see. I tiny spider annoying a big grasshopper, I dont know what kind. Several times it swiped the spider off and each time the spider crawled back up by its web. Eventually the grasshopper lowered it down and they went their separate ways.
Signature: Linda in Healesville Australia

grasshopper spider australia linda 2 300x185 Grasshopper and Spider interaction in Australia

Unknown Grasshopper interacts with Spiderling

Hi Linda,
Your photo is quite amusing, however, we are having a difficult time trying to identify this somewhat distinctive Grasshopper. We cannot find a match on the Brisbane Insect website nor on the LifeUnseen website. The spider, which we believe may be a newly hatched spiderling, is well beyond our ability to identify, however, we do have a theory to explain the activity you witnessed. Newly hatched spiderlings often disperse by ballooning on the wind. They will climb to a high point and release a strand of silk that catches the wind and then carries the spiderling to a distant location, hopefully one that will result in a rich food supply. This will ensure that the young spiderling will not have to compete with siblings to survive. We believe the spiderling in your photo has mistaken the Grasshopper’s antenna for a twig and that is the highest elevation point it is able to reach at the moment the photo was taken. Perhaps one of our readers will be able to assist in the Grasshopper identification.

grasshopper spider australia linda 300x184 Grasshopper and Spider interaction in Australia

Unknown Grasshopper with Spiderling Hitchhiker

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Comments 2

aussietrev wrote:
This is most likely a bark mimic grasshopper, a full length shot would be helpful though.
Posted 24 Mar 2011 at 1:18 am ¶
bugman wrote:
Thanks Trevor
Posted 24 Mar 2011 at 8:42 am ¶

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