Friday we went to Henderson Slough where we were trying to get photos of the many Monarch butterflies passing through the area. I saw a large "bee/wasp" in the flowers and started trying to take a picture of it. Suddenly it flew directly into a spider web and we figured it was a goner. However, that was not the case......
My "bee/wasp" turned out to be a European Hornet and it was attacking the spider and not vise versa! They are about equal in size. I kept shooting and tried to get all the action, but the spider started dropping down on its silk string and they were falling to where I could barely see them.
My "bee/wasp" turned out to be a European Hornet and it was attacking the spider and not vise versa! They are about equal in size. I kept shooting and tried to get all the action, but the spider started dropping down on its silk string and they were falling to where I could barely see them.
Here the wasp is still in an early struggle with the spider...or maybe it is already dead. If you click on it to make it large, you can just barely see the web silk that the spider is hanging from.
Obviously at this point the hornet had won the battle. I couldn't tell if it was eating it or what it was doing with it.
What an evil look it is giving me!......."Back off....this is mine!"
Little by little it dragged the poor spider down off the leaf. Going....
......almost gone. I don't know where it took the spider or what happened next, but a few minutes later it flew back out of the leaves and we decided it would be a good idea to leave, too.This was creepy! I felt I was watching a Sci-Fi movie of some monster attacking another monster. Yuck!
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14 comments:
This has got to be one of the best series of shots I have ever seen Mary. What a fantastic capture!! Brilliant!! It was probably a female hornet and she was taking the spider back to her nest to feed the babies. Thanks for sharing.
You were able to witness some fascinating nature today. These are great shots!
Ugh Mary... Me too!!!! I was chilled when seeing those pictures and thinking about that poor spider. I don't like spiders much and I don't like hornets. BUT--I hate seeing them hurt each other.
On the other hand, you captured something that most of us have never ever seen. So---for that, you are special. THANKS!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
That's kind of like what happened when I was shooting a hummingbird moth, and another one attacked the one I was shooting and started mating with her! Nice series.
Joan: I knew this would interest you! It was riveting to watch, but I hated to see the spider die. The hornet wasn't gone long, so its nest must have been nearby.
Lindy: Thanks....I just wish nature wasn't so violent at times.
Betsy:It was really creepy to watch. I didn't want to get near that hornet, but wanted to see what was happening at the same time.
Yikes!!! That's pretty cool...way to be observant!! I've never seen that...
What great captures!
I think we had these out at the orchard but I had no idea what they were. I was googling European hornet to see how big and it really does sound like them. They would be on the apples in the fall...they seemed to be eating the apple, but now I don't know. I never had one sting, and wondered if they could.
Kelly: It was creepy!
Rose: I remember a lot of bees hanging around our apple trees, but never paid attention to what they were. This guy was pretty big. I assumed this hornet stung the spider....but don't really know what happened.
That is a litle violent,but you sure caught some great action.Nature is not always sweet and gentle.
Blessings,Ruth
What a fascinating sequence. I'm glad you were able to get the pictures without becoming a target yourselves.
hmmmmm Heather got a shot of a wasp spider the other day your onewas a bad beastie
Mary: Very nice capture of the trophy hunt. That was as good as my praying mantis attack last year, nice captures.
I wouldn't have thought the Hornet would be the winner. Great catch Mary.
B.
Wow Mary you were in the right place at the right time to get that great struggle of nature! I bet that hornet too the garden spider off to feed the kids!!
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