I watched for a while to see if it would break free while the spider sat patiently in the middle of its web. There was no escape as the ladybird was stuck fast and the spider eventually approached its prey very cautiously. Once the spider was next to the ladybird it attached many silk threads and used its legs to spin it round at quite a fast rate, all the time encapsulating the ladybird in a silk cocoon. When the spider was satisfied that its next meal was going nowhere it ambled back to the centre of the web.
At one stage I contemplated fetching the camcorder to show how deftly the spider could spin its prey round but that would have meant missing most of the action so I made do with a series of still shots. I was surprised how many threads the spider was producing at once. One of the photos, unfortunately not in focus, showed about ten threads all being spun at the same time.
Not the nicest of things I have photographed but then nature isn't always nice and cuddly and all creatures have to eat.
Great series! The ladybird's bad fortune is the spider's good fortune; that's the way of the world, even if it is sometimes uncomfortable to observe in action. About how long did this take?
ReplyDeleteThank you Wilma. Fortunately the camera records the exact time of each shot. Between approaching the ladybird and finishing spinning is 1 minute 10 seconds.
ReplyDeleteFascinating sequence, beautifully put together. A ladybird is a very convenient shape for a spider to rotate while it envelopes it in silk, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteGreat captures John.
ReplyDeleteFascinating to watch, how the spider wraps his prey.
Thanks Phil. As you say it was a convenient shape and the spider spun it round so deftly. Fascinating to watch.
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith. I was so captivated by the action I just sat on the grass and couldn't take my eyes, well camera really, off it. It is the first time I have observed a spider at work from beginning to end.
ReplyDeleteNow I want to be able to film it as it would be very interesting to watch detailed action in slow motion. Gory little monster, aren't I :)
Brilliant series John.
ReplyDeleteThe spider is so good at spinning it must be an Arkwright.
No doubt the ladybird accounted for many vegetarian greenfly in its lifetime.
...interesting.....I love the time-lapsed series. Spiders have to eat too--a good intro to the Halloween season over here.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rob. Arkwright indeed - very good.
ReplyDeleteThere have been lots and lots of 7 spots this year. I was inundated with greenfly before they arrived but haven't seen any for quite a while now.
Thank you Kelly - it seemed the best way to illustrate this post, especially as the action fitted nicely in the vertical strips.
ReplyDeleteHave a good Halloween season.
Super series John & so well presented. Something I've watched many times but never thought about filming this part of nature's natural order of survival. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your very kind comment Frank. I was virtually spellbound just watching a simple everyday happening. Like you I have watched in the past but this time it was close enough to see detail from beginning to end.
ReplyDelete'Spellbound' is a good word to describe the ladybird's fate as well ;) I have seen the speed and dexterity of a spider wrapping up a wasp. I was as fascinated as you were, I think...It was on it like a flash and right to work. Not so bad watching a wasp being treated in such a fashion... You caught the whole process very well in this series.
ReplyDeleteFascinating and beautifully photographed John! Amazing to see it only took just over a minute.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jan. Speedy Gonzalez the Spider :)
ReplyDeleteHi Glo, nearly missed you there. Yes, it is not so bad when you see a 'nasty' like a wasp being caught. Some spiders do seem almost to pounce but this one was definitely working at Lincolnshire speed on its approach.
ReplyDelete{Lincolnshire folk will always help out, but they don't say which year they will get round to it :) }