So -- there was this insistent hisss from the office window last night. I lucked out -- the camera was at hand. This burly spider had caught herself a few days food; most likely, judging from the sound, a scarab beetle.
Set the camera on macro and started taking pictures as the spider kept wrapping her prey in more and more silk. Had to toss a lot of shots, which looked in focus on the screen but were a total blur after the fact. In most of these pix, there is at least one spot that's in focus, though that lady was working rapidly.
At this point the package was pretty well tied up and she rested. Time: about 15 minutes. I've no idea how many days this meal will last. For comparison purposes: the spider's body (the round yellow "button") is roughly 3/8" in diameter.Links: First, another critter -- Steve's Bavarian red squirrel Youngster who's now enjoying the fruits of the hazel nut tree. He's posted several wonderful series of her searching for nuts, then peeling the husks and eating them. Second, if you're into cowboy poetry, the Arizona Cowboy Poets have a web site; currently, the annual readings are taking place at Yavapai College. And an extra -- The Great Wall of Erpingham, a wild, modern "mosaic" that includes all sorts of stuff, much from a British scrapyards business. Thanks to Avus...
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7 comments:
Lucky catch. Nice post. Like visiting an eatery.
Oof! 3/8" is big enough, for my liking. Amazing capture, I don't like the idea of the hissing prey, though...
GJ, thanks for the link. Always much appreciated.
Great photo's.......
steve -- very lucky, tho I wish the pix had turned out a hair sharper.
lucy -- I don't know why this particular variety of beetle hisses. BTW, the entire rig -- mummy & web were gone two days latter.
windy -- thanks; I love it when I'm able to catch such a basic event.
WOW! Great catch, mamasan! Yah, too bad the camera focused on the screen, not the critter--but they're still fabulous!
dotter -- actually, I managed to get the screen off; the problem is that the action took place in too wide a range for the wee depth of field available with a macro shot. Besides, that spider, she was moving right along & that which registered as in focus just before clicking the shutter was too soon vibrating. I need a wee flash for such situations. Actually, I'm just damned lucky to have caught the action at all.
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