Poor man's macro: A small snack..

[jax]

This jumping spider (Marpissa muscosa), the largest I have seen so far , was consuming what looks like a small mining bee.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3455477129_714ca6a82b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/3456347700_535e8b5907_o.jpg

thanks for looking!

[Lord Vetinari]

Lovely captures- that is certainly a lot larger than the ones we get here !
Brian v.

[jax]

Thanks Brian. It was exceptionally large indeed, others I've seen where only half the size of this one.

[jax]

I found her dining on a flesh fly today..

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3459768985_6fd8cf80d7_o.jpg

[Skippy]

This jumping spider (Marpissa muscosa), the largest I have seen so far , was consuming what looks like a small mining bee.
thanks for looking!

Your not feeding it steroids by any chance are ya ?? :rofl
I've not seen one this big either, the ones I see around my place are very tiny and very fast movers.... I find it impossible to photograph them they move so fast.

I have only once managed to get a shot of a jumping spider.

It must be hungry that it's eaten a bee and a fly within a 2 day period.

Thanks for sharing Jax, these are amazing, can't get over the size of the thing.... you'll be able to put a colar on that one soon hehehe!

.... Skippy :D
.

[Cygnus Studios]

That is one huge jumping spider. The ones I find here would be food for the fly.
Great capture.

[jax]

Thanks Skippy & Steve.

I have to admit I backed off a little when I first saw her. :D
But apperently the body length of a female Marpissa Muscosa can easily reach 10 to 12 mm!

We had a moderate winter here (with temperatures dropping as low as -15 celcius) but she managed to survive this by being tucked away in our fence I guess..


I could get my lens real close to her ( < 10 centimeters) when she was feeding, allthough firing the flash made her jump a little each time, thus making it impossible to do a series I could focus stack..