Comments on: The strumming assassin that hunts spiders on their own webs

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:40:11 +0000

@ Shade, portia is an amazing spider, isn’t it? It’s amazing how it hunts.

By: Shade

Shade — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:44:17 +0000

@craig
Assassin bugs are a family, generally specalizing in one or 2 prey items.
The vast majority of assassin bugs chosen fare can/does kill them.
There is at least one assassin bug that preys on wasps, and every now and then an assassin bug is eaten by a wasp.

@MT-LA
heh, if you really want to worry, keep an eye out for anything that mimics the portia spider (from the jumping spider family).

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:03:19 +0000

I just found something that grosses me out more than spiders. Thanks Reddit!

By: vibration consultant

vibration consultant — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 22:34:42 +0000

Talk about some bad vibrations. In my world, vibrations just cost you money, not your LIFE!

By: Craig Gosling

Craig Gosling — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:06:49 +0000

I would like to know what other insects, if any, prey upon assassin bugs. Also, do assassin bugs only pick on small spiders they can overpower?

By: Brian Too

Brian Too — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:16:32 +0000

That’s quite the video. I’m amazed at how sensitive the spider is; the assassin is hardly tweaking the web. Then you can see the spider pounce and get a whole mouth (fang?) full of nothing at all. Next the assassin pounces and the spider is caught entirely unaware.

By: MT-LA

MT-LA — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:48:58 +0000

Shade…I hope you’re not in the design business. If I ever encounter a steak-mimicking-robot assassin, I’m coming after you buddy!

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:57:08 +0000

That film made my Brown Recluse scar itch. (Not literally, but you know what I mean)

It was beautiful. Nasty little spider trying to kill a good bug. Then WHAM!

I smiled.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:19:26 +0000

Unfortnately that thing looks so much like a spider I would probably kill it too…but I am pathologically terrified of spiders…

By: Shade

Shade — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:21:13 +0000

Its a world full of experts and specialists.
I see the risk the bug takes though, in thast video it lets the spider get right under it (they must not use their eyes much/like larger animals) and only THEN does it attack.
Love these articles on bugs/insetcs/whatnot, learn a lot about how we should be designing things.