New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-29
IN INSECT DUEL
FIGHT TO DEATH BETWEEN \ WASP AND
SPIDER.

r1cfr, TO DEATH BETWEEN \ WASP AND 4
SPIDER
.1 saw wonderful exhibition OF the bravery G.
Insects while I was on my vacation this summer"
cold the professor after the coffee had been brouga,
ON and the cigars had been lighted. II spent my
holiday camping out" he continued. "an1 the sight
n which | refer was fight 10 the death betweea
a wasp and spide.
soon after my tent was pitched | awoke ore
morning and heard buzzing sound in the peak Of
nv canvas house Looking up while still lying on
nv ,mnrovised bed I saw a wasp building his mud
house IN the tent pole. Several times he went out
.rd returned a few minutes later with his load OF
clay which very soon formed another section Of his
abode
Tine next mornng at just about sunrise, heard
the buzzing again. but 1t seemed 70 have increased
in volume CHANGING up again soon saw the rea-
son. A big spider had spun web completely across
the corner of the tent shutting the half-fnshei
home of the wasp off that 1t could not be reached
except by passing through the web. The spider was
an ugly-looking black fellow and he stood on
guard watching the movements OF the wasp. The
latter flew backward and forward looking for an
opening 10 his domlce. Then he remained still In
tho air for a second or two, II taking general
,.iev Of the situation Finally he alighted on the
tent mole within an inch OF the edge OF the
web and seemed to be making up his mind VIVA.
to do next
''Ry this time | had become interested anu "V"'
dered what his plan OF action would De- Nhi1e
was still contemplating the foes, the wasp new
off the pole and directly toward the spider, "nca
had been keeny watching him. and was evidently
ready for the fray If there was TO be one. As inc
vasp flew past his enemy ne curled the under part
of his body up so that the part containing the sung
or would come in close proximity to the spider
1.-THE latter was evidently accustomed 10 SUN
warfare however because ne got out OF the way III
a twnkling Maddened at his defeat, the wasp
look a turn and went back again. once more 'Ae
spider eluded his venomous singer, but at the same
time he appeared to be trying to bite the wasp
The spider might have retreated far away from
his web Fort that his could not nave touched
him until the obstruction was broken DOWN Dut nc
evidently did not intend TO nave his ciretuy con-
nVtrap destroyed WITHOUT a stIuSS'.
There were several skrmishes Of the knd al,
ready described, and then the wasp again alshttd
an tho tent pole as though reconnOUerns ana get
exactly what he was doing was proved by what
followed. After remaining on the pole TOT d iSn
seconds he flew off and poised hlnseit IN we ~.
a foot or so >eow the web. Then ne daIt.i uiIects
at the exact spot which had been occupied py the
spider a second before. . . 10, 20 ,,er,
For an instant both combatants were lost 10 w.
and | heard the battle raging IN inc pan y, VIC
der which was getting the better or IL Doth lnsscss
dropped 10 the ground close to me. ne splet, Sa 80,
holding fast to the wasps head with MS slaI ~
Effective mouth. and the wasp was running n 10
singer IT. and out of the spiders body with ilsh,,
ning-Iike rapdity. There was Il snort stlss en,.or
the ground when both insects began 10 sIV~
and their movements were less RAPID many 49,
foil apart but neither moved. eNalnl!su ' Tss
10Th after watching them for few SECONDS In ~.
Doison of each had done the work for the o'ne
and both were dead.