Wasp Spider by Enmos

Photography • Macro • posted on Aug 26, 2004

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Description

Thanks for viewing ! Comments are welcome... Ok now, im allright i just got a bit depressed... but im back now ;o) The species is Argiope bruennichi. Common name is Wasp Spider. This is the male. It's a spider found accross most of Europe and the south of England. Because of its markings this spider is also known as the 'wasp-spider'. This spider builds a vertical orb web with vertical zig-zag band of silk (stabilimentum) and catches insects such as grasshoppers. This spider displays special behaviour for certain insect prey. For example, the bombadier beetle, a beetle that squirts hot gas from the tip of its abdomen could be damaging for a spider to catch. Argiope bruennichi however has a cunning strategy to overcome this problem, when a bombadier beetle lands in the spider's web, the spider will quickly approach the beetle wrap it in silk and leave it to expend all its chemical deterrant, when the it has done this the spider will then kill and eat the beetle safely. The male of the species is much smaller and can often be seen in or near a female's web waiting for her to complete her final moult. After her final moult the female becomes sexually mature and her chelicerae (jaws) will be soft for a short time. During this short time the male can mate with the female without fear of being eaten. This spider reaches its biggest during August when the females are full of eggs. They are harmless, though in the very unlikely event of a bite the effects are likely to be mild swelling and itching at the site of the bite. Hope you like :o) More will follow on this spider :o) Btw. sorry for the long info text, i was kinda excited lol Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my last upload, "The End" !! Many thanks, Enmos PS. I will catch up with commenting soon.

Comments (50)

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Chaos911

5:14AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

good looking spider :) very good shot!!!

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Jedi_Padawan

5:14AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

Wow - what a great shot of a beautiful spider! Very well done. I'd love to see the female spider of this species - haven't seen any of this kind before. Wonderful! ~Saskia~

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Niutek

5:14AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

He's so beautiful! Wow, never seen one before... A gorgeous shot and what a great pose you caught him in. Splendid :)

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Gabrielsdream

5:30AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

This is fantastic, what a wonderful macro! I love everything about it, it is perfect! Very interesting information too! Thanks!

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dark_storm

5:42AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

thx you for the description. excelent picture my friend. perfect macro of that wonderful spider. v

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herbstliebe

6:19AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

i think, you're sitting always in the grasland. fantastic shot!

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ralfy

6:21AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

perfect macro, this is an amazing shot!!!Love the details...great picture!

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sadlers5

6:25AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

glad ur back! he looks like a tiger spider! great shot, ann :)

vlaaitje

6:38AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

I think we all are depressed from time to time..that's very normal....lovely I made the same one but then in action....but not that close...spiders are not my favorite insects...brrrr.....I went often to a open field near at my house.... and after I saw so many cobwebs between the grass I think before I go in there.....I am a bit scared because I walked in there with naked legs.....so you can imagine how that felt....but this one is very close...It seems it will be creeping through the screen....well done...

shandybob

7:04AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

OMG - breathtaking - it's so crystal clear! Excellent my friend.

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Dreamingbee

7:31AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

wow.. excellent shot as always.. most beautiful !!!

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odie

7:37AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

I love the colors and angles - the stripes all seem to match! Excellent work. :0)

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ARADTech

7:46AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

That is a fantastic creature and photograph!! Thanks for the look :)

Bathlon6

7:54AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

Great shot!!well done my friend!!GSL!!

chrysalide

8:36AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

really i hate the spider but it's an excellent shot as usual. the colors are beautiful. have a good day

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environaut

8:43AM | Thu, 26 August 2004

Amazing spider with such beautiful colors!! Thanks for all the info too...I love your posts as they always contain so much info on your subject matter. Excellent shot! V

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