Posted in Arachnids Jumping Spiders Spiders Videos

Cellar Spider VS Jumping Spider Interaction

I had been noticing this jumping spider hunting near some cellar spiders. I have witnessed both these spiders take down other spiders in the past. Having witnessed these cellar spider VS jumping spider interactions before, they always had seemed to result in a stalemate. I came back later to find the jumping spider being wrapped up in the cellar spiders web. Whatever conflict had happened now seemed long finished and the cellar spider had its next meal. However, these jumping spiders are resilient, and this one was not about to let that happen.


After some time I noticed the jumping spiders leg start moving. It is hard to say if the wrapped arachnid had taken a bite or not but it seemed to suddenly spring to life. After it cut through the web it quickly escaped the situation. The jumping spider left the area soon after seemingly none the worse for the encounter although decided against round two.

Jumping Spiders and Cellar Spiders both Accomplished Spider Hunters

I was a little frustrated having missed the jumping spiders attack. I have witness jumping spiders pulling apart other spiders webs to get at them. They are obviously extremely formidable spiders in the arachnid world for other spiders to contend with. Likewise the delicate looking cellar spider is often underestimated but is a superbly established spider hunter itself. These I have witnessed  capturing such large prey such as the Giant House Spider Eratigena atrica. Cellar Spiders use their long legs to throw large amounts of webbing over their opponents subduing the often stronger more powerful adversary.  They then move in close to the leg or other area  to inflict a bite and inject venom. Cellar Spiders are often considered a great benefit to people as although they consume a large amount of prey, they are completely docile to people.

Giant House Spider
Eratigena atrica, a common and formidable prey for the Cellar Spider

It was a lucky and amazing experience to witness these two top arachnid predators interacting like this, hopefully there will be more interactions to witness in the future.

Posted in Insects

First Run in with an Assassin Bug

I noticed this little Assassin Bug crawling up a door frame. At first I really didn’t realize what I was looking at. On closer look I spotted the fearsome proboscis tucked up under its body, which it uses to puncture and consume its prey.  I definitely very cool critter.