Thanks: 0
Likes: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 10 of 10
Thread: mud dauber wasp cocoon
-
28th March 2010, 01:08 AM #1
mud dauber wasp cocoon
I was moving some boards a while back and in the process inadvertantly broke open a mud dauber wasp cocoon that was in amongst them. I reckon it had only that same day been closed up by mum? dad? wasp.
These mud dauber wasps make the cocoons (specially when it has been raining) then fill them up with caterpillars/grubs or in this case jumping spiders, lay an egg then make a lid for the cocoon, seal it up then move onto making the next one, no more mothering? fathering? for u.
They paralize their pray without killing them and probably even preserve them? (sort of a coma?) so that they stay edible for junior to eat and grow until the wasp pupates. The spiders that were in the cocoon where still soft and flexible and just looked like they could get up and jump away, and the variety of spiders, all camoflauged? to blend in with it's surrounding, not good enuff for waspy tho
I took some piccies....
Attachment 133319broken cocoon1.jpgAttachment 133321
broken cocoon3.jpgAttachment 133323Attachment 133324
Attachment 133325Attachment 133326
I find nature fascinating
Pete
-
28th March 2010 01:08 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Age
- 2010
- Posts
- Many
-
28th March 2010, 08:18 AM #2Skwair2rownd
- Join Date
- Nov 2007
- Location
- Dundowran Beach
- Age
- 76
- Posts
- 19,922
Fantastic stuphph!!
Thanks for sharing!!Once watched a wasp drag a spider over about 250 metres to its nest. The las bit required it to haul the thingabout 3metres up a wall. Incredible!
My father watched a wasp swoop on a spider one day- a big wolfiie -that tried to defend itself. The wasps response was to zip around behind the spider and nip its legs off!!..
Another fellow described how he had watched some wasps at work along the banks of the Murray. One lazy bugger simply waited for another wasp tobring home the bacon. It then nipped into the excavated hole/nest, removed the tucker and took it to its own abode.!!
-
28th March 2010, 12:25 PM #3
artme - reminds me of a BBC documentary on penguins. They build their nests on a rock shelf out of pebbles......from a beach over a mile away !
Most of the penguins went shuffling off on multiple trips to the beach, coming back each time with a couple of large pebbles cradled on their feet. As you'd expect, there were also a few penguins who stayed at home and built their entire nest out of stolen pebbles.
You could see the look on the workers faces when they came back to their nest from another long haul to the beach..."Whoa - I'm sure I had more than that. These guys wouldn't steal from me though.....nah, not my mates. Oh well, back to the beach."
A bit like life really........
-
28th March 2010, 12:42 PM #4
Nature is fascinating. Thanks for sharing with us.
Reality is no background music.
Cheers John
-
28th March 2010, 04:32 PM #5
Cool thanks for showing every one.
-
28th March 2010, 07:23 PM #6
those poor spiders are creepy aren't they. All paralized and just flopping out. You can nearly hear them screaming. I have top watch that they don't build their nests in the teapot spouts. With the clay they find in the shed.
anne-maria.
Tea Lady
(White with none)
Follow my little workshop/gallery on facebook. things of clay and wood.
-
29th March 2010, 12:11 AM #7
The thing I find fascinating is that the wasp must have looked for those spiders in quite a variety of shrubs/trees/grass based on the variety of the colours, my favourite is the one with the feathers for palps(the bits they wave about to signal other spiders)
Pete
-
29th March 2010, 03:11 AM #8
We had simlar wasps at my parents house except they used to chew away at the bricks the house was made of and use that to build their nests. I also found if you go after them with a can of flyspray they attack back. Sometimes they will see you coming before you even get a chance to spray and attack.
-
1st April 2010, 12:12 AM #9
I'm no expert but it's probably a species thing...whether they r aggressive or not, there are some here that will attack if u go near, these ones make a hanging string of papery cocoons which they guard ferociously, I find the mud dauber ones to be a lot more placid
Pete
-
1st April 2010, 10:16 AM #10
It's like watching Aliens and waiting for the eggs to hatch before a nasty jumps on your face and sucks you dry.
Poor little spidies watching and waiting to see who gets a leg nibbled at and you can't move to do a thing about it.
Similar Threads
-
Wasp swarm.....can you help??
By clare in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 14Last Post: 13th February 2009, 11:23 PM -
Wasp Sander
By Hick in forum GENERAL & SMALL MACHINERYReplies: 8Last Post: 20th August 2008, 09:32 PM -
New stuff from WASP etc
By jmk89 in forum GENERAL & SMALL MACHINERYReplies: 2Last Post: 9th April 2008, 09:59 PM -
Hercus Dauber
By Penpal in forum METALWORK FORUMReplies: 1Last Post: 3rd February 2008, 11:45 AM -
WASP sander
By Tiger in forum HOMEMADE TOOLS AND JIGS ETC.Replies: 7Last Post: 24th May 2005, 11:20 PM