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Trechaleid Spider with Young

The first thing I photographed after arriving in Caraça Natural Park was this hunting spider, found wandering in an unpaved parking area.

Trechaleid Spider with Young | January 25, 2010 | Caraça Natural Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Up until I started preparing to write this post, I figured this was a wolf spider. After reading to learn more about the parenting behavior shown here, I’m now convinced it is instead a species in the family Trechaleidae. What first tipped me off was a similar photograph in this little book:

[book:0060849746]

Several identifying characteristics are mentioned for the particular species pictured. After some online searching, most appear to be shared by other species of the family. read more

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Jumping Spider Subdues Carpenter Ant

June 16, 2009 | Twelvestones, Roswell, GA, USA

I found this pair on a viburnum in my backyard. What looks like a male Phidippus whitmani has subdued what I assume is a winged reproductive carpenter ant.

I didn’t notice while I was taking pictures, but while reviewing them I saw that a little fly arrived to share in the spoils.

Fly arriving

Fly on ant

Posted in Easter Eggs, Featured Photos | 1 Comment