Araneus angulatus wrapping its prey

[shane shacaluga]

Was out looking for some birds to photograph this morning and came across this huge orb web. In the center was this Araneus angulatus wrapping its prey

My 300f4 + 1.7TC is a great macro lens too so with a monopod I took a series of shots. The sun had just come up so no flash was needed and the background was beautifully lit as well

Nikon D7000
3oof4 + 1.7x TC
f13
1/640
ISO 1000
Monopod

NR on dropped the curves on background and slight crop for composition. sharpening and levels on main subject

Also managed to record a short video of the spider finalising the wrap and clipping the prey item away from the web

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUWj0-4MGO0&feature=youtu.be

[Jason Stander]

Hi Shane... This a great shot... Your exposure and detail (plane is perfect) spot on... Enjoy the bg... This would have also worked in a portrait format to loose the OOF web detail.... Otherwise a great interaction shot... WD!

[Nancy Bell]

I like the composition of the spider hanging from its web and that it is dangling by one leg, and the very nice OOF bkgd. Super interesting video. Once the prey is wrapped and removed from the web, what does she do with it?

[shane shacaluga]

Thanks for the comments! Nancy the spider will usually reattach the food item on the outskirts of the orbital web and the reconstruct the damaged area so it will continue to catch prey.

Some of these large orbital webs are also inhabited by scavenger spiders that feed off any remains and small insects that land on the web. They have a way of moving that does not trigger an attack from the bigger one.

[Nancy Bell]

Thanks Shane, I love having a bit of natural history with images.