A 4 part series showing various stages of Binky's recent adventure with a Sumatran hissing cockroach.

 

 We join our favourite spider here, as she makes an exploratory grab at the roach, which has just been popped in...

 

 

But the roach stays still, and this tactic confuses Binky into staying exactly in that position, all 4 front legs actually ON the roach, for a full 20 minutes. Unfortunately, as the roach realises too late, it can't possibly outwait a tarantula, who are of course the very masters of outwaiting anything, and so it decides to risk placing a best foot foward.

 

This proves to be a mistake. 

 

We cut to a microsecond after that, during which the spider has thrown itself down on the roach, and struck 3 or 4 times at it in very quick succession, assumedly spotting that it isn't a cricket, which needs just the one.

 

As can be seen, the huge roach takes some controlling...

 

 

Notice the 'Stilting' action of the legs which keeps the roach high off the ground, thereby not allowing it to get a purchase, and either break free, or injure the spider by kicking excessively. Note also just HOW high Binky has to lift to raise the whole animal off the ground. It's impressive.

 

Part 3 is what went on around 10 minutes later, when the roach was alot more subdued - by this point, it has been struck at least 10 times, and its head is largely mush thanks to the powerful chelicerae / fangs arrangement that have already disassembled it. One of the less pleasant moments in nature, I feel, not least for the poor roach.

 

Patiently waiting as the roach nears its final destination and finally succumbs...

 

 

Another 10 minutes later, Binky has moved the roach to his uneven bit of cork bark, and begins the long process of tying it all up into a neat consumable bundle... he often chooses to eat here for reasons I do not yet understand. It might be to do with good anchorage points for the webbing.

 

So, the webbing. Satisfied that the prey won't now run away when put down, a feeding mat is started.

 

 

And after that. it took binky 35 hours in total to consume the roach, and he did just that, without a break, or even putting it down (except the once to tie it up in silk). All that remained was a small blob of 'stuff' neatly web-wrapped, and deposited in a corner where he puts all his food boluses when he has finished with them. Clever stuff...