Last week, we posted a piece about camouflage, in which we cited our newly discovered wasp spider as an example of a harmless species dressing up in the black and yellow stripes that so many creatures use to signal that they are dangerous. Then we watched BBC’s Winterwatch and there is a picture at 2:20 that suggests we may have been mistaken. We apologise for the error…..
We can think of only one other UK example of invertebrates eating vertebrates: the ferocious aquatic nymphs of the larger dragonflies hunting and eating tadpoles and even small fish, a drama that must be playing out in the depths of our ponds every year.
The stunning header picture was taken in the park in 2020 by Simon Knight
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 
I also saw that on Winterwatch and I was shocked. I wonder if anyone has been bitten and how much it hurts?
And to think, there were times last year when I had my nose only a couple of inches away from them! I have a couple of interesting ideas with the Wasp Spiders this year, so I will be extra careful!
I agree; I photographed one in the set-aside at the top of Kestrel Field, on my knees, hunched over the web – and I am arachnophobic! I prefer not to think about how much it might hurt to be bitten by one.