13 Comments

The tarantula as food: stuff of Alien films only worse.

I especially like the waterproof “roof” on top of the nest... ingenious!

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Animals are amazing, aren't they? And yeah, the paralyzed tarantula as larva host gave me the creeps...

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That's one wasp I definitely don't want to meet. I feel sorry for the tarantula.

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Agreed! The research I read said the wasp ALWAYS wins - the tarantula just has no chance.

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Jun 23, 2022·edited Jun 23, 2022Liked by Heather Wall

Note to self: no logs with holes in fireplace.

I love reading your findings!

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Thanks, Dee! It's possible you were even with us when we picked up the log - it was a climbing trip to Tennessee during college, if I remember correctly. Ah, the things you learn in college!

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The picture is the last one in your newsletter.

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Heather,, what was the photo of the upside down turtle with the strips of white adhesive on it!!!

Laura

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I'm not sure - was it something in the article? Where did you see it?

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Jun 23, 2022Liked by Heather Wall

one of your last photo. Remember, my eyesight is not the greatest so it coud be obvious about what it was! I'll go back to your newsletter and try to find it.

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Oh! I should have put a caption on that photo - I was rushing to get the newsletter out and didn't think. That's actually an unusual nest I saw on a bike ride last week - it's an underground yellow jacket nest, but because they built it on a bank, almost all of it is exposed. It was only 2-3 feet above the gravel road I was standing on. And it's slightly blurry because I was nervous being that close and was rushing to take the picture!

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Jun 23, 2022Liked by Heather Wall

Thanks. I'll look at it again now that I know what it is!

You are brave!!! All for the sake of a picture!

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I did some brief research and it looks like you're right - if they're agitated and try to sting and release venom, which is likely what that clear liquid was. Glad you got them removed! That happened to us once, but with honeybees. We lived in a log cabin and they found a route in and started building in the wall. We noticed because our fluorescent light in the kitchen suddenly started filling up with bees. Had to get a beekeeper to attach a hive with a queen to the side of the house to entice them out...

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