I Spy
As I was passing the Blue Banded Bee hotel I saw this on the wooden base below. A dead fly with no ants in attendance. And knew from experience what it signified.
*Click on the pictures for a proper look … and click again
Means there was nothing of it left to eat, or the ants surely would … A jumping spider I saw the day before had already extracted any nourishment, here with a new meal.
Change the approach angle slightly, keeping spider eyes the centre of attention, to get more of the scene in focus. You never know what you’ve got until it’s done.
Another angle, another opportunity to investigate spider eating fly. The small hole, about 4mm diameter, probably home to something else.
After the spider was done s/he was energetic enough to go in search of new pastures, probably looking for a mate. As all things do in time, separate and apart. … Such is life, or living.
I keep an eye on the Blue Banded Bee hotels in case of invasion by undesirables, like the fly.
But who’s to say the fly is not good for the ecology of the BBB’s nest site. Not me …
So I largely leave them be, or chase them off if I think they are too many for comfort.
They harass the BBB’s as they approach the nest and I’m not sure what they are up to.
Parasitising the BBB, or playing tag, or who knows … I sometimes intervene.
The fly is subject to a higher authority.
Aren’t we all …
© Mark Berkery … Click on those pictures for a closer look … and click again.
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Nature's Place 
Nature as it is… gives me a bit of a shiver to imagine how the fly must have felt before it died… Great photos, though! :-)
Pain, the fly felt pain for a moment or two. Was pain, as there is no separate fly and pain. So it didn’t suffer (emotionally), just experienced (rather, was …) intense sensation as the life behind rapidly withdrew from formal existence.
Thanks … :-)
Really great pictures.
Thanks Mike.
Yes,it turns out it’s broken.need to take a closer look to discern it
What a fortunate opportunity to follow up to your find of the fly husk. A really beautiful sequence. The spider reminds me very much of one that I found here in Auckland earlier this week–could it be a Hypoblemum albovittatum, aka white-banded house jumping spider or house hopper?
I really don’t know much about the latin for spiders. But it could be. :-)
The art is how the spider eats the filling without damaging the shell.the shell looks from the side whole,but
… but it is broken in places. The spiders digestive juices need a way in to soften the insides up enough for extraction.
The spider’s eyes really very close in the second last picture! Superb!
The blurry eye of the fly can be off-putting even to the trained observer. But we (I) work with what presents in the time I have.
Fascinating study.
Amazing nature …
True.
We’ve taken notes as we’ve just made a bee hotel. Thank you for the tip, Mark.
There was a good article on this here – https://theconversation.com/bandbs-for-birds-and-bees-transform-your-garden-or-balcony-into-a-wildlife-haven-129907
Lots of people doing a little for nature is doing a little for their own well-being.
It certainly does, Mark. Nature gives me far more than I ever give it back, so it welcomes every small contribution. Thank you for the article link.
I really appreciate your comments. Thanks.
Thanks Beth.
Another great set of images! 😄Your photography skills continue to inspire me, Mark.
Thanks Tish G.