urbpan: (Default)
urbpan ([personal profile] urbpan) wrote2011-09-16 04:00 pm

Predator on predator violence


The other day I saw yet another jumping spider on the exterior wall of my house. If I was any good at identifying them, I could do a 100 species project just on salticids. This, however, was the first time I've seen one in the act of eating.


And just what is it eating? Look at the many fused segments, the plethora of long legs...
Yes, that's right! It appears that our little jumper has caught a young Scutigera coleoptrata, or house centipede!

Now, who can catch the yellow jackets! I just got stung for the first time since I've become a pest control professional, and I wasn't even at work!

[identity profile] flyingwolf.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
you're a pest control specialist? We need one of those at the national zoo - the red pandas have been moved inside because there are 5 wasp (or hornet) nests in their yard.

[identity profile] urbpan.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
Well, as long as the pandas are in they need to send someone into the exhibit, preferably early in the morning, to go in and treat them and remove them. If you can see the nest it's not so bad, but if they are in a structural void it's a real challenge.

[identity profile] flyingwolf.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
I heard they were going to wait until it's cooler. Not sure if last night was cool enough for them... there were big lights in the exhibit this morning, so I'm hoping somewhere in the wee hours of the morning people were working (I wanna see the babies!! more importantly, I want to photograph the babies without glass in the way. Plus the building doesn't open until 10:00 and I'm a frequent early morning red panda visitor

[identity profile] bill_sheehan.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, what awesome pictures!

I know I say that a lot, but both you and Cottonmanifesto create such incredible shots. Thank you!

[identity profile] urbpan.livejournal.com 2011-09-17 11:23 am (UTC)(link)

Thanks Bill!