A redback spider-hunting wasp dragging its paralysed redback prey back to its nest.
Image: Florian and Peter Irwin
In this scenario one would more than likely believe the redback spider would win hands down. However in this instance with a specific species of wasp, it seems the wasp comes out the winner.
It was during a recent study at the university of Adelaide, scientists discovered a native wasp to Australia which is clearly a predator of the redback Spider!!!
The wasp has since been renamed the "red back spider-hunting wasp" after a family in Western Australia witnessed the wasp paralyse the red back spider in their backyard.
The fascinating part of this discovery is that the adult red back spider-hunting wasp is no bigger than the red back spider. Scientists believe the wasp stings and paralyses the red back spider, but does not kill it. The wasp then drags the redback to its nest where it lays eggs on the spider & once the eggs hatch the redback spider becomes lunch for the wasps newly hatched larvae.
Redbacks are one of the most dangerous spiders in Australia and are mostly found within and around houses. However one issue does arise with the re introduction of this wasp on a larger scale, the wasp does not need to hunt all the time, which means that the although the wasp is just following its natural instinctive behavour and lowering the red back population, it will not eradicate the red back.
If you have a problem with red back spiders, feel free to contact us on 1300 760 045 or visit our website
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