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Vegetarian Spider Described
Smivs writes with word on a spider, Bagheera kiplingi, that dines almost exclusively on plants. "The recently described species of jumping spider, discovered by researchers from Villanova and Brandeis Universities, dines on the protein rich tips of acacias, the thorny shrubs found in much of Central America. ... The species of acacia... favored by the Bagheera kiplingi has protein-rich leaf tips and nutritious sap to reward its [symbiotic ant] protectors. ... The Bagheera kiplingi has essentially evolved to steal from the mouths of the ants. These agile, inquisitive jumping spiders can leap up to 50 times their own body lengths... Competition for prey in the spider world is fierce. The Bagheera kiplingi's ancestors took the reflexes evolved for hunting and adapted into a creature that uses them for ant evasion."
If they are vegetarians, why do they make webs?
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As a vegetarian, i find the term flexitarian annoying. It's like a saying "I'm a virgin because I only do it doggy style". i'm also annoyed by people who say they are lacto-ovo-pollo-pesci vegetarian. They just don't eat cows. No need to label that! Seems more like they are trying to have a trendy label of their own. i'm not looking for a label, i generally avoid mentioning it at all. i just order what i want.
There's no reason to call this spider vegetarian. It's a spider that eats mostly plants and the occasional bug. It would be more accurate to say omnivore. The term vegetarian couldn't apply to a non-sapient animal. A dog that eats nothing but veggies isn't vegetarian, it's just eating what is available. It's not making a *choice* to not eat animals. These spiders aren't making a choice either. They're following instinct to find an easier source of food. It's an evolutionary change in strategy. For me, it is a choice. i am an omnivore choosing to not eat other animals. These spiders aren't troubled over the treatment of factory farm animals, or worried about cholesterol or anything else. They're just avoiding a crowded field of competition for food.
Yeah, it's very novel to see a spider nomming on plant matter, but rushing to call it vegetarian is as inane as calling anyone wearing all black goth. They might just be wearing all black... or they might be a juggalo or Marylin Manson fan... or....
The other thing that bugs me is how much other people obsess about what i'm NOT eating.
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While Tarantula Hawks are awesome, it's not quite as crazy as what these other wasps do. The T-Hawk's victim is simply paralyzed to serve as food. The argyraphaga victim actually remains mobile, but does the wasp's bidding by first building a specialized web just to hold the larva's cocoon, then waiting patiently in the middle of the web to serve as a snack. It's a zombie minion.
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So why should you deserve a label, while others don't?
"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
The fridge is where the ripe ones with damaged skin or cracks go. They normally turn into sauce, but occasionally go to other uses. The wicker basket on the kitchen table is where the ones without damage go. I can't store ones with damage there because they'll rot. I also dehydrate some.
I find that the fridge's affect on tomatoes depends strongly on the type. The juicier the tomato, the less they become mealy.
And I'd imagine vegetarian spiders would agree.
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