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Torben Jorgensen | profile | all galleries >> Small World >> A Spider's Meal tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

A Spider's Meal

When I was out shooting dragonflies, I discovered this little female Sympetrum sanguinium getting caught in the web of a Araneus quadratus spider. My first thought was to free her but then I would not interfere with nature. Spiders have to live too and they are doing such hard and fascinating work creating their web. I felt at the same time happy for the spider and sorry for the dragonfly.

Within a short time the spider had killed the dragonfly. Notice how she sheds her eggs at that moment. The spider then wrapped her in some web and dragged her up in a little shelter of leaves.
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comment
larose forest photos11-Oct-2009 02:53
This is always the sad part of nature, and I have gone through exactly the same sentiments that you express. Sometimes, I confess, I have interfered, but only when I see that the spider already has several other prey items in her web, because as you say, she has to live too. But I do feel so sorry for the dragonfly.
Jan Søgaard12-Aug-2009 12:16
Amazing picture, I wonder if it had any effect to free the dragonfly, it may have already been kill, that you can´t see on your pictures. A vote for the brutal nature. ;o)
Ann Pettigrew25-Sep-2008 17:14
Amazing photos, Torben! I bet you were sad for the dragon and then to see that she had eggs must have made it even tougher to watch. But, you are right, the spider has to survive, too. It is scary to see what happens in the world of insects and spiders. What a way to go.
Hilde Aaseth 23-Sep-2008 16:22
Nature is cruel, but Torben makes even death beautiful. Wonderful photoes of spider and dragonfly. Thank you Torben for thees amazing pictures.
Jytte Strandberg16-Sep-2008 14:00
Fantastic captures. What a dramatic scene !!
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