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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Orb Weavers (Araneidae) » Eustala
Photo#620671
Spider w/ Parasite - Eustala
Copyright © 2012 Bruce Marlin

Spider w/ Parasite - Eustala
Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois, USA
March 15, 2012
Size: 5mm
Suspect cat-faced spider. Thanks for any help.
This tiny orb weaver had a dozen insect carcasses in a web barely one-foot diameter. Seems she is eating for two though - there is some sort of larvae lodged between her carapace and abdomen. I'm sure someone here knows what that is.

Images of this individual: tag all
Spider w/ Parasite - Eustala Spider w/ Parasite - Eustala Spider w/ Parasite - Eustala
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Contributed by Bruce Marlin on 16 March, 2012 - 5:22pm
Last updated 16 March, 2012 - 7:02pm

Moved
Moved from Araneus.
… Bruce Marlin, 16 March, 2012 - 7:02pm login or register to post comments

Posture makes us think more of Eustala
See what you think

Have seen some young Mantidfly larva wedged in similar places on spider specimens, but they were much smaller. Can't see enough to tell you whether that's what this is or maybe given it's size it is a wasp larva.
… john and jane balaban, 16 March, 2012 - 5:47pm login or register to post comments

 
Parasite
This from the Atlantic magazine online:
"Consider Polysphincta gutfreundi, a parasitic wasp that grabs hold of an orb spider and attaches a tiny egg to its belly. A wormlike larva emerges from the egg, and then releases chemicals that prompt the spider to abandon weaving its familiar spiral web and instead spin its silk thread into a special pattern that will hold the cocoon in which the larva matures. The “possessed” spider even crochets a specific geometric design in the net, camouflaging the cocoon from the wasp’s predators."
… Bruce Marlin, 18 March, 2012 - 11:22am login or register to post comments

 
Yes
I agree, thank you. I intend to visit her every day and maybe catch whatever it is do whatever its going to do.
… Bruce Marlin, 16 March, 2012 - 7:01pm login or register to post comments

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