A macro photographer has captured the moment a spider-hunting wasp paralysed its prey.
Colin Edwards saw the wasp – which is rarely seen in Scotland – hunting a crab spider in his garden in Charlston, Fife.
The wasp, called Dipogon variegatus, then dragged the spider it into a hole to lay an egg inside it.
Mr Edwards said he believed this was likely to be the only time he would ever witness it happening.
The 59-year-old is the national environment manager with Forestry and Land Scotland.
He has been taking really close-up, detailed images of very small creatures for more than 10 years.
The Dipogon variegatus wasp, which is solitary and does not live in a hive like the common wasp, only lays its eggs in live crab spiders – which are also rare in Scotland.
Mr Edwards said it was the first confirmed sighting of a spider-hunting wasp in Fife. It follows two unconfirmed sightings 15 years ago.
He told BBC Scotland he sits every day in his garden at his restored steading, with his high resolution camera.
“I specialise in behavioural activity. I’ve seen pictures of dead specimens of this wasp but never of it in action.
“So I’m absolutely thrilled to have captured this process going on in the natural world – and to think it was in my garden is just so exciting.”
(BBC)
