Acuity
Struggle for Life : 1 of 7
Posted by Rick (Toronto, Canada) on 2 August 2011 in Animal & Insect.
*something different in the form of a seven part serial that depicts the cunning of a spider (David) versus the brute strength of a much larger beetle (Goliath) : since each frame is subtly different yet largely similar, please feel free to hold off your comments until the serial ends... or comment away!
It began on the side porch of my girlfriend's mother's house, deep in the backwoods of rural Nova Scotia. A huge beetle that purportedly bites people, was walking along the top of a door frame. Alive, well, ferocious and dominant looking in its insect realm reality. Suddenly one back leg became caught up in a dangling strand of spider web. I watched a minor struggle ensue in which the beetle only increased the grip of this strand of strategically placed web. Motion along the veranda ceiling rafters caught my attention... a spider, alerted to new food potential. I hurried for my camera and the following serial is a condensed version of the struggle for life that played out over an hour's time.
@Chris Pereira: The smart vote. After all, we're talking about a web advantage.
@Mhelene: Thanks. It was dark in there and I went with a fast shutter and the flash for most of the shots.
@Stephen: Can't fail with the cunning of a spider at work. :-)
@grouser: Ha ha... a much bigger feast than the usual flies and what not.
@Ralph Jones: Cheers, Ralph : I think your money is safe.
@Mariana M.: I think you're looking at the beetle, sister. No matter! :-)
@Viewfinder: I don't think there will be much suspense to this serial... heh heh.
@k@: I began with colour and transitioned to black and white mostly. I have never really spent time to watch an epic struggle play out like this one, though I suspected from the very first minutes that the beetle would not prevail. Spider webs are simply amazing tools. Here's to your week, Karine!
@Jason Politte: Spidey has just dropped down from the ceiling here, and is beginning to swivel around for the battle.
@Don: Thanks for checking it out, Don.
@Irene: Thanks, Irene.
@franz: A sinister promise... :-)
@Steven: Yep, at least a full hour from start to finish. It was basically over within the first fifteen minutes, though, and there was no blood. Just a lot of kicking, thrashing, attempted biting, and strategizing. That's actually one of the long antennae that you're seeing bent back, and spider is about to start focusing on six beetle legs.
@Twojays: Funny comment, Joyce; thanks for the chuckles. I don't know the beetle species depicted, other than "nasty looking"... pssst : swing by in any tempo that you so desire, for it is always appreciated and I am in the low-maintenance Am3 ego category, but rest assured the series is bloodless and mister nasty beetle is living very much on borrowed time! :))