Ever Seen Anything Like This?

obecanobeobecanobe Registered Users Posts: 278 Major grins
edited December 7, 2008 in Holy Macro
I saw this on my morning walk.
The fly was hanging by its wing by what looked like a spiders web.
I am thinking some sort of fungal attack / takeover. It's amazing that it is so symmetrical.

3084275736_c19d66947d_o.jpg

Thanks for looking, any comments appreciated.
Canon 40D, 17-85mm Kit Leans, 60mm 2.8 Canon, MR-14EX, Kenko Tubes

Comments

  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2008
    wow, geoff, that is amazing.
    I know nothing about these things but I am hypothesizing that the spider injected the fly with some chemical and it secreted some stuff out between the exoskeleton structural chunks??

    disclaimer: I have no idea what i am talking about.. :D
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
    Blog + Twitter
  • obecanobeobecanobe Registered Users Posts: 278 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2008
    Took me by surprise.
    Apparently it is a fungus takeover. The fungus infects its host and then multiplies.
    Just prior to taking over and killing the host, it brings about a chnage in the host responses which causes the host to head for high ground. This means that when the spores of the fungus are released, they disperse over a wider area.
    Now that is a spin out!
    (This explanation was provided by Brian aka Lord V)
    Canon 40D, 17-85mm Kit Leans, 60mm 2.8 Canon, MR-14EX, Kenko Tubes
  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2008
    I said I had no idea what I was talking about.. :D

    Truth is stranger than fiction.. top capture mate..
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
    Blog + Twitter
  • Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2008
    Interesting capture :)
    Brian v.
    Brian V.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/
    http://www.lordv.smugmug.com/
  • leaforteleaforte Registered Users Posts: 1,948 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2008
    Maybe that's what's happening to my big toe! rolleyes1.gif
    Growing with Dgrin



  • blacksmithblacksmith Registered Users Posts: 115 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2008
    You had a great chance! Very nice.

    Cheers!
  • SkippySkippy Registered Users Posts: 12,075 Major grins
    edited December 6, 2008
    obecanobe wrote:
    I saw this on my morning walk.
    The fly was hanging by its wing by what looked like a spiders web.
    I am thinking some sort of fungal attack / takeover. It's amazing that it is so symmetrical.

    Thanks for looking, any comments appreciated.

    Nope, can't say I've ever seen anything like that eek7.gif
    Interesting shot, looks like its been dipped in sugar cyrstals.

    ... Skippy :D
    .
    .
    Skippy (Australia) - Moderator of "HOLY MACRO" and "OTHER COOL SHOTS"

    ALBUM http://ozzieskip.smugmug.com/

    :skippy Everyone has the right to be stupid, but some people just abuse the privilege :dgrin
  • GOLDENORFEGOLDENORFE Super Moderators Posts: 4,747 moderator
    edited December 6, 2008
    good find Geoff, have seen a few this autumn.
    here is a living fly with it, its all crusty!
    phil
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenorfe/

    2888414196_2c72e78dd2_o.jpg
    Phil

    moderator - Holy Macro
    Goldenorfe’s Flickr Gallery
    Goldenorfe photography on Smugmug
    Phils Photographic Adventures Blog
  • roentarreroentarre Registered Users Posts: 497 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2008
    Wow, seriously stunning. I have never seen that before ! wings.gif
    My Blog
  • obecanobeobecanobe Registered Users Posts: 278 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2008
    Thanks to all for your comments.
    Great capture to find one alive with it Phil.
    Canon 40D, 17-85mm Kit Leans, 60mm 2.8 Canon, MR-14EX, Kenko Tubes
Sign In or Register to comment.