Who hunts the huntsman? Cryptocheilus bicolor, the orange spider wasp (Australia). This is one of 78 species of wasp recorded in my subtropical food garden in Brisbane. A large species of wasp - with females reaching 3.5cm long - adult spider wasps are nectar feeders. She's out at dawn hunting for a huntsman spider which she will sting, paralysing the spider. Before placing the spider inside an egg tube, she will lay an egg on it so her larva will have fresh food when it hatches. This spider was

Spider wasps (family Pompilidae) are known for their unique hunting and nesting behaviours. A female spider wasp will locate a spider, paralyse it with her sting, and then carry it to her nesting site. She will then lay an egg on the spider and seal it in a burrow. Once the egg hatches, the wasp larva feeds on the spider until it reaches maturity. They're also known for their striking physical features, which can include brightly-coloured wings and metallic-looking exoskeletons. There are more t