Golden Silk Spider [Nephila clavipes] And Prey

    This Golden Silk Spider (also known as "Banana Spider"), along with its cicada prey, was photographed along County Road 13 just north of Six Mile Creek in far western St. Johns County, Florida on 7/20/2008. This reporter witnessed the cicada become entangled in the spider's web and the fierce battle that ensued as the cicada attempted to escape while the spider attempted to prevent the loss of its outsized meal. The spider repeatedly bit the cicada (as shown below), and after several minutes, the battle was over as the venom took affect and the cicada's struggles subsided.

Golden Silk Spider [Nephila clavipes] And Prey

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