Kenny and I enjoyed watching the ants that had made this huge nest in Joshua Tree NP. We were amazed to see a group of small spiders attack and kill the ants. We laughed after watching and photographing them for 20 minutes that it doesn't take much to entertain us! :)
This female Spider is eating an ant that she killed in the nest. We were surprised that there were several spiders, males and females, killing and eating the ants (note a second spider on the leaf blade in the background). There were many dried ant carcasses scattered near the entrance holes, so it appeared the spiders had been feasting for a few days. I used my 4 diopter adapter on my camera and my small tripod to take this picture. Photos like this make me better appreciate professional nature photographers!
The petals of the Joshua Tree flowers don't completely open. Like other yuccas, the Joshua Tree flowers are pollinated by only one insect, the Yucca moth. The plant and the moth have a symbiotic relationship (mutualism), both are dependent on the other for survival.
