Paralysed Theridion spider

by Mareko Marciniak

Title

Paralysed Theridion spider

Artist

Mareko Marciniak

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photo

Description

I found in my bathroom a small wasp mud cell attached to the toilet paper. While cleaning I decided to remove it. I saw a wasp flying around and building the mud cell. When I removed the cell, through a whole I noticed some insect legs. I assumed that a wasp larva was inside. To my great surprise, when I opened the mud cell, I found eleven (11) paralysed spiders inside, still alive but unable to move, packed together. I realised that the mud cell belonged to a spider wasp. These wasps paralyse spiders and lay eggs in them; the larva then feeds on those spiders still alive, eating the vital organs at the very end; and only then the unfortunate victims die -a fascinating biology and behaviour of the cruel insect killer. This spider was one of the victims. It was easy to photograph it because it is completely paralysed and unable to move, except some very small leg movements. The next photo shows the whole group of the other paralysed spiders from the small mud cell.

Uploaded

January 15th, 2012

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