Alien Nations: Up Close and Impersonal with Insects and Spiders

Over at the Ark in Space there are a number of insects and spiders awaiting your company.  Don't think you will be able to squish these representatives of seemingly alien nations on Earth, however. Thanks to macrophotography they look as big as you or I - and a few of them look like they would quite fancy us for their tea too!

Above is the eight eyes of a Hentzia palmarum Jumping Spider - or as many as can be seen without a 360 degree pan.  Head over to the Ark in Space for the rest of the collection.

Image Credit Flickr User Thomas Shahan

Ecdysis: When Growing Up is More than Skin Deep

Our sibling site, the Ark in Space, has a feature today about Ecdysis.  No, it’s not the latest strangely named Hollywood science fiction blockbuster, it’s something that many invertebrates go through.  Taken from the ancient Greek the word means, literally, to strip off.  It leaves behind an exuviae (often spelled with the final e omitted) which is the remains of the exoskeleton which has been shed, often with related structures still attached. For some invertebrates it can be a regular occurrence to facilitate growth.  For others it can be part of a series of instars which culminate in the emergence of the finished, adult form.

It is a fascinating process where beauty can be found in the grotesque. For these invertebrates, the process of growing up is far more than simply skin deep. Catch the whole feature over on Ark in Space.

Image Credit

How do Spiders Eat?

If you are of a nervous disposition, then look away now! The Ark in Space today poses the question just how exactly do spiders eat their prey? My first answer would have been they catch them in their web and then have a good munch.  However, munching aside, that is just the first part in a rather gruesome process which could well cause you a sleepless night or two. To fill you in, the Ark in Space launches gleefully in to a full, (possibly) stomach churning description, together with some amazing macro-photography of spiders and their unfortunate victims. Click any of the links above (or the picture) to read the full article - and please don't have nightmares!

Image Credit Flickr User DJDwayne

10 Amazing Recently Discovered Facts about Spiders

Spider threesome anybody? This is just one of the strange (and possibly disturbing) recently discovered facts about spiders you can read about on our sibling site, Ark in Space.  Yes, one species of spider does engage in the occasional ménage a trois but the reason why neither of the boys loses out might make you go ‘ew’. As a number of facts are about the wild thing, if you are of a sensitive nature you may wish to look away!

Image

How Spiders Escaped the Pakistani Floods

When the floods hit Pakistan in 2010 the first thing that many people did was to head for higher ground. So too did countless millions of animals, among them spiders.  To escape the rapidly rising waters the spiders did the sensible thing and climbed up trees. The Ark in Space reveals the unexpected benefit of this strange migration.

Pictures courtesy of the UK Department of International Development on Flickr

The Tarantula Hawk - Ruthless ‘Raptor’ of the Insect World

Image Credit Flickr User Crume

Don't look now, but over at Ark in Space there is a not for the squeamish post about the Tarantula Hawk Wasp.  This rather terrifying insect does what the name says - it preys on tarantulas, which it uses as a feast for the next generation. With some great pictures of the wasp in action, we suggest that you do not read this if you are having your lunch!