I've seen spider-hunting wasps in my Macquarie backyard on at least a couple of
occasions in the past. Very impressive little animals they are too! Not only
colourful but possessing remarkable strength for their size. I once watched
one carrying a large huntsman, 2-3 times its size, up my driveway, up a low
retaining wall, across the lawn, and up and over the back fence into the
neighbour's yard. It did this at a remarkable pace, and simply went in a
straight line, over any obstacle, and straight up the wall and fence vertically
without any hesitation! I'd like to see one catch a huntsman and paralyse it -
that must be quite a spectacle.
Regards
Frank Antram
-----Original message-----
From: Elizabeth Compston
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:26:43 +1000
To: birds birds
Subject: interesting sighting, not a bird
>
> A short time ago I noticed, scurrying across the mulch in our back
> garden, what appeared to be large garden spider, carrying a moth/
> butterfly. The moth/butterfly was bright orange, about 2cms long and
> 1 cm wide, wings folded down. But, the legs of the spider were not
> moving--strange. They reached a hole that had been dug, under a
> rock. The moth/butterfly dropped the spider, scratched around a bit
> and then hauled the spider into its burrow. No photo of course, but
> all this happened so quickly that I would not have had time to get
> inside for my camera anyway. I shall keep an eye on that hole
>
> Elizabeth
>
> This must be what it was
>
> Spider-hunting Wasp
>
> ?
>
> Colour: bright orange & black
> Active period of Adults: Spring & Summer
> Status/distribution: common in Victoria
> General notes: These wasps are excellent hunters, adult females
> paralyze spiders with a sting, which are then to be stored in
> underground burrows & become food source for spider wasp grubs.
>
>
>
>
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