Happenings in the insect world
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Published on: July 6, 2012
I know.
Jumping spiders have to eat, but do they have to snag the bees?
Last weekend as we were checking the lavender patch in our yard, we noticed something partially hidden--and moving--on a post.
It was a jumping spider eating a honey bee. Later in the afternoon, the same jumping spider snared a sweat bee.
If you have flower patches in your yard--and you should, to attract the pollinators--you will also attract the predators.
Fortunately, they don't eat as much as Joey "Jaws" Chestnut of San Jose, the hot-dog eating champion of the world.
Jumping spider eating a honey bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Jumping spider eating a sweat bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Moving fast, a spider heads for prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
I just figured out that you're the one behind all the amazing photographs of insects I've been looking at when I work at the Master Gardener office in Sacramento. Today, I checked out the post on The Predator and was pleased to see the fabulous jumping spider photos. I have a jumping spider on my desk and had just called a woman to discuss it. Then, with a bit of a break in the phone calls, I thought I'd check the MG website and there your photos were on the exact same spider. You are an amazing photographer and have some of the best photos of every day entomology I've seen. The fabulous photos coupled with a great blog on current topics provides a wonderful service for those of us answering landscape and garden questions from the public. Thanks so much for doing this. I'm going to be sure and let my fellow Master Gardeners know to check out the blog section frequently for your posts.
Pam Bone - Master Gardener and Former Horticulture Advisor, Sacramento County
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