Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#28277
Small Spider

Small Spider
Powhatan County, Virginia, USA
August 12, 2005
I think the small spider might have killed the larger one
and was feeding on it when I got this photo.

"Some species behave as kleptoparasites in that
they invade the web of a (usually larger) host
spider and eat the host’s web, glean insects off
the host’s web, steal the host’s wrapped food
bundles, and/or feed with the host. Some species
attack the host when it is vulnerable such
as during molting, or capture and eat small
spiders by lunging at them and grabbing them
with their front legs. Still others capture spiders
by throwing a line of sticky silk over the
victim."

This quote was taken from this site.

Images of this individual: tag all
Small Spider Small Spider Small Spider

Moved
Moved from Argyrodes.

Argyrodes.
I agree with the comment on the companion image (wish the comments carried over to ALL the images!!!). This looks like an Argyrodes. Neat find! They feed on prey captured by other spiders. I doubt this one killed what it is eating.

 
Argyrodes
Thanks for the ID. The species might be A. nephilae, but I am not sure. This was the second time I have seen this species of Argyrodes feeding on the remains of an orb weaver, and just two days before both of those orb weavers were fine.