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Kōrero: Spiders and other arachnids

Eating a spider

Image
Eating a spider

Although jumping spiders have excellent eyesight, they are often deceived by the camouflage colour and leaf-like rocking behaviour of the praying mantis. This native jumping spider (Trite planiceps) is being dismantled and eaten by a praying mantis, whose mouthparts work like an egg beater, with a vacuum behind them.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection

by Simon Pollard

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Simon Pollard, Spiders and other arachnids – What is a spider?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/12703/eating-a-spider (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Simon Pollard, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.