Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-11-13
AN INSECT DUEL.
A Fight to Death Between q Wasp and .
Spider.

Spider.
al saw wonderful exhibition of the
bravery of insects while was Oh my
vacation last summer, said the profess
FOR, after the coffee had been brought
on and the cigars had been lighted. Il
Epent my holiday camping out, he con-
tinued, land the sight to which I refer
was a fight to the death between wasp
and spider
"Soon after my tent was pitched I
awoke one morning and heard buzz
ing sound in the peak Of my canvas
house. Looking up while still lying on
my improvised bed, saw wasp build
ing his mud house on the tent pole
Several times he went out and returned
few minutes later. with his load of
clay, which very soon formed another
section of his abode.
"The next morning, at just about
sunrise, heard the buzzing again, but
it seemed to have increased in volume.
Glancing up again, soon saw the rea-
son. A big spider had spun web COM
pletely across the corner of the tent,
shutting the half finished home of the
wasp off, so that it could not be reached
except by passing through the web. The
spider was an ugly looking black fell
low, and he stood on guard watching
the movements CT the wasp The latter
flew backward and forward, looking for
an opening 10 his domicile. Then he re-
manned still in the air for second or
two, as if taking general view of the
situation. Finally he aighted on the
tent pole within an inch or so of the
edge of the web and seemed to be max
ing up his mind what to do next.
by this time had become interest
ed, and wondered what his plan Of ac-
tion would be. While was still con-
templating the two foes the wasp flew
off the pole and directly toward the
spider, which had been keenly watching
him and was evidently ready for the
fray, if there was to be one. As the
wasp few past his enemy he curled the
under part of his body up SO that the
part containing the stinger would come
in close proximity to the spider.
"The latter was evidently accustomed
to such warfare, however, because he
got out Of the way i'll twinkling.
Maddened at his defeat, the wasp took
a turn and went back again. Once
more the spider eluded his venomous
stinger, but at the same time he ap-
peared to be trying to bite the wasp.
The spider might have retreated so far
away from his web fort that his enemy
could not have touched him until the
obstruction was broken down, but he
evidently did not intend to have his
carefully constructed flytrap destroyed
without a struggle.
''There were several skirmishes of
the kind already described, and then
the wasp again alighted on the tent
pole. as though accommodating and get
ting breath for IA grand onslaught. That
this was exactly what he was doing was
proved by what followed. After re-
manning Oh the pole for few seconds
he flew off and poised himself in the
air foot CT SO below the web. Then
he darted directly for the spider, and
went completely through the web at
the exact spot which had been occupied
by the spider second Before.
"For an instant both combatants We're
lost to view and / heard the battle rag
ing in the peak of the tent Before I
had scarcely had chance to wonder
which was getting the better Of it both
insects dropped to the ground close to
me. Tho spider was holding fast to the
wasp's head with his small but effect
i've mouth, and the wasp was running
his stinger in and out Of the SPIDERS
body with lightninglike rapidity. There
was short struggle on the ground,
when both insects began to grow weak
and their movements were less rapid.
Finally they fell apart, but neither
moved. / examined them both, after
watching them for a few seconds. The
poison of each had dore The work for
the other, and both were dead. New
York Tribune.