A comma makes a full stop.
Spotted this Comma butterfly on Buddleia during a summer mid – afternoon whilst taking some garden shots. I was intrigued to see it in the same position, some two hours later. Closer inspection revealed it in the clasp of a pure white crab spider obviously lying in wait for its next victim.
Paul Dobrée – Carey
Dorset, England, UK
Hi Paul,
What a lovely addition to our new Food Chain page.
Just wanted to share this picture
I took this photo in my backyard a few years ago with my Nikon CoolPix 995. I believe it’s a green lynx spider consuming a male carpenter bee. I really enjoy your site. I’ve been photographing insects in my backyard for a while now and they never cease to amaze me with their beauty. Feel free to use this photo on your site!
Gene
Hi Gene,
Thanks for the awesome image. We received a request from entomologist Julieta Brambila to set up a page of predators and prey. Your photo is an excellent start.
Impressive
Dear WTB,
I came upon your site today, it’s an amazing archive. I thought that these two pictures would be of interest to you. Obviously they are not the best spider photos, but at the time I was more impressed with the size of its meal. The lizard is approx 3" long and the spider is an Australian Red Back.
Regards
Simon
Coffs Harbour, Australia
Hi Simon,
Impressive sure is an apt description. The Australian Redback Spider, Latrodectus hasselti, is in the same genus as the American Black Widow, and the venom of the female is also quite toxic. Here is a site with more information.
I think it’s a Robber Fly…
Hi Bugman!
Happy Holidays!
I think this is a Robber Fly (Family Asilidae); but, I’m not sure what the species is – can you help? I took the photograph this morning, here in Penang, Malaysia. The predator had its proboscis inserted into the unlucky prey and wasn’t all that concerned about me taking its photograph, although it moved three times during the photo session, LOLOL! Any help is appreciated.
Regards,
Nawfal
Nawfal Nur Photography
Hi Nawfal,
Yes, this is a Robber Fly, but we cannot help with an exact species as we are not familiar with Asian species. Even North American species are difficult to distinguish from one another without careful anatomical examination that is just not possible with a photograph, even a photograph as wonderful as yours.
Bugman,
Nice and fun site. Here’s a spider wasp of some sort dragging what seems to be an orb weaver to its lair. Photgraphed in central Texas (about 70 miles east of Austin) on 9/6/2005. Any idea of the genus and species? Thanks for you reply. Absolutely fine if you post. Charles Vannoy, my father-in-law, took the picture.
Glenn Davis
Hi Glenn,
We are pretty certain this is an Anoplius Spider Wasp, but the puzzling thing is they prey on Wolf Spiders and Funnel Web Spiders. Yours is preying on a Garden Spider in the genus Argiope. We will get a second opinion when Eric Eaton returns. Here is what Eric has to say: ” The spider wasp with the garden spider is indeed an Anoplius. Good grief, I didn’t realize they could take prey that big!”
The Praying Mantis smile
On November 22, we found a very cold praying mantis outside laying on the ground. We brought the mantis inside and placed it on one of our houseplants to see if it would "warm up" and come back to life. It did. And then it got lost in the house. After we finally found it on top of a dining room curtain, we put it back down inside the plant. Then, I found a large bug in the back yard (I think it was a stinkbug?) and put it in front of the praying mantis. The praying mantis reached out, grabbed the bug, and ate it wings and all (head first). After it (is it a she?) finished the bug, the praying mantis turned its head, looked at me, and "smiled". Hmmmm… Is the mantis smiling because it is grateful, or is it thinking "come a little closer my dear, your next on my menu….." Rather unnerving. I have nothing else to feed it. I think I am going to have to put it back outside! Happy Thanksgiving.
Mary Strong-Spaid
Hi Mary,
Your story is so sweet. You can always go to the pet store to buy crickets and keep your mantis as a pet. Seems a shame to shoo it into the cold.
(11/25/2005)
You are right. It would have been “a shame to shoo it into the cold”. With snow flurries and 30 degree weather, the mantis wouldn’t stand a chance. So, this morning we did go out and find some live crickets at the local pet store. Now, not only is the Praying Mantis still inside where it is warm…it is very, very happy. It sends its thanks on to you.
Mary Strong-Spaid
Scorpion eating cricket
The "Desert Scorpion devours Roach" photo in the scorpion section reminded me of the one I took a few weeks ago outside my house in Tempe, AZ (see attached photo). The pizza guy was not nearly as impressed as I was.
Thanks for a great site!
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
That pissa guy is so jaded, or perhaps they also have a problem with scoprions getting into pizza. This also looks like a Desert Scorpion in the genus Vaejovis.
Scorpion photo
Hello, you helped us in the past identify a tailless whip scorpion. Thought you might enjoy this photo.
What a beautiful photo of a Desert Scorpion, genus Vaejovis, devouring an immature Cockroach.
our spider
Thank you for your info on the interesting spider…I’d never seen a spider “catch” a snail…thought you might like this: Thanks for such a wonderful website.
Jen
Hi Jen,
Not only do we love your photo, we want some of the offspring of your Araneus Orb Weaver in our garden where the snails are currently devouring our sprouting lettuce.
Masked Hunter with Prey?
Dear Bugman,
I sure am having fun identifying bugs using your site. Thanks for all your hard work!! I took these photos in early September here in Barrie, Ontario , and am having some problems identifying the insect. My best guess is a Masked Hunter, but the head seems too large compared to what I found on your site. This particular critter seemed to be carrying around an earwig… I couldn’t tell for sure though. Any thoughts as to what this is?
Thanks!
Yvonne
Hi Yvonne,
Your photo shows a wasp. Eric Eaton helped us with the I.D. According to him: “Ok, found out the cricket hunter in the image is a Liris sp., family Sphecidae, subfamily Larrinae” She will dig a burrow, drag the prey inside and lay an egg on the still living but paralyzed cricket.
AnotherTachypompilus species with Wolf Spider
I am assuming that I am correct on this species (Tachypompilus). But I didn’t know they were in Missouri. Great Website!, the Missouri Conservationist hooked me up with the link, because I sent them this picture!
Leanna
Hi Leanna,
We agree with your assessment. It is truly amazing how that female wasp struggles with the obviously much larger, and dangerous spider, to feed her young.
Assasin Bug and Bee
As everybody mentions, I too think this is an awesome site. We see plenty of ‘bugs’ in the yard and garden and the site really helps. Saw this poor bee poking around the center of the rose, only to come out from under a petal and pow, looks like the assassin but gets a big lunch. Of a couple of your pictures, I didn’t see an Assassin just like this. BTW, I’m in Houston, TX. The photo is reduced in size, but I can send the original if you want a closer look. Thanks,
W. Boyers
Hi W.,
Nice image of a Milkweed Assassin Bug, Zelus longipes. It is found in the warm Southern states and has also been reported from North Carolina and Texas.
