Uploaded May 2013 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Black Widow Spiders are known to have tough webs, but THIS spider's web probably caught more than she expected! Apparently, this young Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) got snared in the web, possibly while hunting spiders for dinner. So now the tables are turned...
Normally, the spider would wrap its prey up in fresh web to immobilize it, then inject venom and wait for the prey's insides to liquefy before feeding on it. In this case, it seems that the lizard managed to twist and wrap itself in the webs just fine without any help. After a couple of good bites from the spider, the lizard was probably rendered somewhat paralyzed, and easy to feed on.
It appears that the Lizard may have been here some time before I discovered it, and unless it manages to wiggle free, the spider will have a food source for quite some time.
Update: The spider finally did manage to kill the lizard, and much to my surprise, actually hauled it up further into the web and began cocooning it just it would any other prey item! Just the fact that the spider could move this animal, which is probably 50 times+ her own weight, is just astounding. More video bits and timelapse to come as this saga unfolds...
See the high-res images and all video links on the documentary page at the JCMDI website here: lepidoptera.jcmdi.com/e/spider/spider.html
The soundtrack is "Ice Moon" from the "Mission Control" CD by Technician (yours truly), MP3 album and single track available on iTunes at: itunes.apple.com/us/album/mission-control/id583890621 full artist discography and CDs available at HTTP://technician.jcmdi.com
Note: This is copyrighted material, however, you may download this footage and audio directly from YouTube and use it free of charge in your own non-profit/non-commercial YouTube videos, school projects, etc. The full free usage policy with copyright notice/claim and partner ad info can be found here:
jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#freeusage and
jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#partner
(please read both sections before using JCMDI material - Thanks!)
Black Widow Spiders are known to have tough webs, but THIS spider's web probably caught more than she expected! Apparently, this young Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) got snared in the web, possibly while hunting spiders for dinner. So now the tables are turned...
Normally, the spider would wrap its prey up in fresh web to immobilize it, then inject venom and wait for the prey's insides to liquefy before feeding on it. In this case, it seems that the lizard managed to twist and wrap itself in the webs just fine without any help. After a couple of good bites from the spider, the lizard was probably rendered somewhat paralyzed, and easy to feed on.
It appears that the Lizard may have been here some time before I discovered it, and unless it manages to wiggle free, the spider will have a food source for quite some time.
Update: The spider finally did manage to kill the lizard, and much to my surprise, actually hauled it up further into the web and began cocooning it just it would any other prey item! Just the fact that the spider could move this animal, which is probably 50 times+ her own weight, is just astounding. More video bits and timelapse to come as this saga unfolds...
See the high-res images and all video links on the documentary page at the JCMDI website here: lepidoptera.jcmdi.com/e/spider/spider.html
The soundtrack is "Ice Moon" from the "Mission Control" CD by Technician (yours truly), MP3 album and single track available on iTunes at: itunes.apple.com/us/album/mission-control/id583890621 full artist discography and CDs available at HTTP://technician.jcmdi.com
Note: This is copyrighted material, however, you may download this footage and audio directly from YouTube and use it free of charge in your own non-profit/non-commercial YouTube videos, school projects, etc. The full free usage policy with copyright notice/claim and partner ad info can be found here:
jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#freeusage and
jcmdi.com/stockfootage/faq.html#partner
(please read both sections before using JCMDI material - Thanks!)
