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View Full Version : Bug of the day 11/11/10 Reluctantly. . .

xpatico
11-11-2010, 01:23 PM
Hey all,
No bug pic today. I was out in the garden looking at one of my almendro (almond) trees that has been dumping a lot of leaves lately. Most likely the result of some extremely heavy rains in the last 2 weeks. I saw this strange clump of spiderwebs and leaves hanging from one of the branches. Upon closer inspection i realized the "clump" was a frog skeleton, remains that had been stripped clean by one MOFO spider. I am not so sure I want to meet said spider. The skeleton is ~1.5" from tip of jaw to hind end(not including the legs). This is one possible forensic explanation of this particular scenario. If someone has an alternate version of events please weigh in. Thanks.
Rob

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5167389686_b4d75ed842_b.jpg
Joisey
11-11-2010, 01:38 PM
Dude! Get out of there!
Jerry Shaw
11-11-2010, 01:41 PM
We have these things where I live...I'd bet one of these could take out a frog!

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b452/Trap_E_Zoid/wheel-bug.jpg

"The assassin of the insect world"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_bug
xpatico
11-11-2010, 01:44 PM
Yeah, I know about the wheel bug, but to leave the carcass dangling in a web, i think would be a spider.
xpatico
11-11-2010, 01:54 PM
Another possible explanation: the froggie was despondent over the loss of his family in the recent floods, just wanted to end it all and threw himself into the web. Maybe?
Old Tele man
11-11-2010, 03:02 PM
...it's a dead FROGGIE!
GAD
11-11-2010, 04:56 PM
We have these things where I live...I'd bet one of these could take out a frog!

http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b452/Trap_E_Zoid/wheel-bug.jpg

"The assassin of the insect world"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_bug

Assassin Beetle is what we've always called them. Cool bugs. I captured one in my kitchen and had it under glass. When I read what they're capable of, I was delicate in its removal. When I catch 'em, I set 'em free outside. Unless they're mice...
Jerry Shaw
11-11-2010, 05:11 PM
Assassin Beetle is what we've always called them. Cool bugs. I captured one in my kitchen and had it under glass. When I read what they're capable of, I was delicate in its removal. When I catch 'em, I set 'em free outside. Unless they're mice...

Yep, same here. Sounds like they can be about as nasty as a Brown Recluse. Still, I leave 'em be. They like to feed on my Evergreen Bagworms (really).

From my yard two years ago:
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b452/Trap_E_Zoid/IMG_1528.jpg