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Photo#1740093
Paper Wasp preys on Spider - Polistes dominula - female

Paper Wasp preys on Spider - Polistes dominula - Female
Alviso EEC, Santa Clara County, California, USA
August 19, 2018
Shot #4, t = 1 minute, 50 seconds.

I was just able to get a shot of the wasp as she flew away with the spoils.

I feel fortunate to have been able to observe and photograph this predator/prey event, which often occurs with the roles reversed, as will be demonstrated by two more sequences, from the same site, with the same species of wasp, wherein a spider catches and kills a wasp, then dies in the mandibles of another wasp. Those will be posted under Argiope trifasciata, link here: [TBD]

I hope these behavioral notes are not too far outside the purview of BG.

Images of this individual: tag all
Paper Wasp preys on Spider - Polistes dominula - female Paper Wasp preys on Spider - Polistes dominula - female Paper Wasp preys on Spider - Polistes dominula - female Paper Wasp preys on Spider - Polistes dominula - female