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Zombie Spider

John53

I go leaps and bounds
Premium Member
Until 2 weeks ago I'd never seen a wasp attack a spider, now I can't go anywhere without seeing it. Today I had the camera with me to document it. Here's some @Dan From Smithville porn.

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John53

I go leaps and bounds
Premium Member
I'm pretty sure they zombify the spider, drag it off to a burrow and lay eggs in them so the young can eat them from the inside out.
 
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ADigitalArtist

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
I've seen a couple spiders being controlled by cordycepts too, which is also another terrifying zombie prospect. Fungus takes over the spider then forces them somewhere high up before releasing their fruiting body to drop spores, start the cycle again.
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Dan From Smithville

What's up Doc?
Staff member
Premium Member
I'm pretty sure they zombify the spider, drag it off to a burrow and lay eggs in them so the young can eat them from the inside out.
That is a good popular description for what happens.

Mud dauber nests are a good source for collecting spiders and they do much the same as the burrowing wasps. I know a guy that collects beetles by finding the burrows of ground nesting wasps.
 

Dan From Smithville

What's up Doc?
Staff member
Premium Member
I've seen a couple spiders being controlled by cordycepts too, which is also another terrifying zombie prospect. Fungus takes over the spider then forces them somewhere high up before releasing their fruiting body to drop spores, start the cycle again.
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I have seen something that appears to be a similar phenomenon in soldier beetles on golden rod. I often find dead soldier beetles grasping onto the top of the plant in a fixed position with their elytra open and raised. Though the suspected fungus is not showy.
 

Dan From Smithville

What's up Doc?
Staff member
Premium Member

John53

I go leaps and bounds
Premium Member
Very distinct warning coloration. I have been trying to picture key it. It may be Cryptocheilus australis or a related species.
Cryptocheilus australis - Wikipedia

Maybe Cryptocheilus bicolor - Wikipedia ?

The other one I saw doing it or attempting to do it was a much smaller wasp and all black. I was mowing the lawn near a fence and saw a spider some out of a gap at pace and launch itself through the air onto my shoulder. As I assessed the likely hood of surviving a flying spider attack the wasp came out of the same gap and attacked the spider which leap off my shoulder to the ground. I continued mowing and wondered why there's never an entomologist about when you need one. It looked very similar to the one in the first photo Spider wasps
 

Dan From Smithville

What's up Doc?
Staff member
Premium Member
Maybe Cryptocheilus bicolor - Wikipedia ?

The other one I saw doing it or attempting to do it was a much smaller wasp and all black. I was mowing the lawn near a fence and saw a spider some out of a gap at pace and launch itself through the air onto my shoulder. As I assessed the likely hood of surviving a flying spider attack the wasp came out of the same gap and attacked the spider which leap off my shoulder to the ground. I continued mowing and wondered why there's never an entomologist about when you need one. It looked very similar to the one in the first photo Spider wasps
I think you are correct in your ID. I was pretty sure of the generic identification, but I don't know your fauna very well. You make a pretty good entomologist so far.
 
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