Incredible never-seen-before images show a redback spider catching an entire MOUSE for the first time ever – wrapping the rodent up in its web
- A redback spider is on a tree branch with a mouse wrapped in its web
- The spider injected the mouse with a neurotoxin to prevent its prey moving
- It may be the first-ever documented instance of a redback eating a mouse
Incredible images have emerged of a redback spider catching an entire mouse – which may the first-ever documented case.
Ruben Boddington, from Denmark, Western Australia, was on a bike ride when he came across the redback spider with a mouse wrapped in its web.
‘I was about to jump on my pushbike when I saw something moving near the pedals,’ Mr Boddington told the ABC.
‘I had a close look and saw it was a redback wrapping up this mouse, which was still alive.’
Ruben Boddington, from Denmark, Western Australia, was on a bike ride when he came across the redback spider with a mouse wrapped in its web
Mr Boddington said he had never seen a redback spider on his property before but believes it might have hidden on a kayak that his brother returned to him.
The only other documented case is an image taken in 2016 where a redback caught a small field mouse in a web in New South Wales.
Arachnologist Robert Whyte said redbacks use a neurotoxin to prevent their prey from moving.
But due to the mouse’s size, the redback would also need to cover it in web so it could not escape.
‘A mouse would need a little bit more than a bite to render it unconscious. It actually needs to be wrapped up so the redback can consume it,’ Mr Whyte said.
The only other documented case is an image taken in 2016 where a redback caught a small field mouse in a web in New South Wales