Wasp preys on Redback Spider; Dangerous Inverts

[findi]

First observation of a wasp preying upon deadly Redback Spider http://bitly.com/KzgRj4 Why we need "dangerous" invertebrates http://bitly.com/KzgRj4

 

[KingBaboon85]

I'm curious to know what species of centipede did they discover in central park NY in 2002?

 

[findi]

Hi,

Thanks for your interest. It is Nannarrup hoffmani, uncovered by researchers from the Am Museum of Natural History (basically, in their backyard!); likely tropical in origin, interesting that it survives NY winters. Here is a BBC news report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2153202.stm. The only technical info available is an abstract from the original description, as far as I know. Enjoy, Frank

 

[The Snark]

I'm missing something. Is this thread referring to wasps taking L. Hasselti? I'm not seeing anything about that in the link.

 

[findi]

I'm missing something. Is this thread referring to wasps taking L. Hasselti? I'm not seeing anything about that in the link.

Sorry about that and thx for the heads-up; here it is: http://bitly.com/QWD7fz

---------- Post added 11-20-2012 at 06:08 PM ----------

Hi All,

Sorry, I made a mistake when posting this note. Here is the link to an article on the wasp that preys upon the Redback Spider: http://bitly.com/QWD7fz

Best regards, Frank

 

[zonbonzovi]

Psst...someone put a picture of a millipede in that BBC N. hoffmani photo

 

[findi]

Psst...someone put a picture of a millipede in that BBC N. hoffmani photo

Hi, Thanks for your interest...it is a very unusual species, and does appear millipede-like. However, I believe that is an accurate photo. Here's one that provides a closer view: http://bitly.com/T2xQyO. Best, Frank

 

[zonbonzovi]

Hi Frank, thanks for the photo. Much better than the grainy BBC pic. Speaking of millipedes(and hopefully not hijacking the thread), did you ever work with flat millipedes in your time at the Bronx Zoo(?) Any success?

 

[findi]

Hi,

My pleasure; not many around so glad I was able to send.

I've had flat millipedes show up in tree and soil shipments, but have not worked with them. Had pill millipedes for a time, but they were, as I recall, lichen specialist and did not fare well. I did care for some interesting arboreal millipedes from Venezuela; a co-worker on field research there discovered that monkeys rubbed the millipedes on their fur, perhaps as an insect repellent or to kill parasites; I did not follow up on the story once she moved on to another institution; should do so. Here's some basic info and an amusing story: http://bitly.com/RZKArN and http://bitly.com/PMcubV. Happy Thanksgiving, Frank

 

[The Snark]

I need to check with Widowman 10 again but I think the L Hasselti is about on par with L Hesperus in venom toxicity and population density/area. The article might be a tad misleading as birds commonly prey on the Red Back as American birds, especially the Road Runner, prey on L Hesperus (and others).
What I find interesting is here we have an incredibly old ecosystem but a predator paralyzing prey identical to wasps today in Europe and America. That paralyzing venom is extremely sophisticated but could easily have evolved 200 million years ago or more.

 

[Widowman10]

Here is a page i put together awhile back, it details most of the main parasitoids of our widow species here in NA:

https://sites.google.com/site/widowman10/predation-of-widows

also, Snark, the venom is pretty on-par with our local blacks. and the pop density/area is the same as well. they are very very similar to what we have here.

 

[findi]

Thanks very much...I'll send it along to others as well, Best, Frank