Spider-predation
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Coccinella septempunctata
seven-spot ladybird, seven-spotted ladybug, seven-spotted lady beetle, C-7
Coccinella septempunctata is a predatory lady beetle native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, now widely established in North America following intentional introduction for biological control. Adults measure 6.5–7.8 mm with distinctive red elytra bearing seven black spots. The species is among the most extensively studied coccinellids due to its importance in aphid biocontrol and its invasive success in new ranges. It completes up to five generations annually with a six-week development cycle from egg to adult.
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Pirate spiders
Pirate spiders (Mimetidae) are a family of araneomorph spiders renowned for their specialized araneophagic behavior—they hunt and feed on other spiders rather than building webs to capture prey. Members of this family employ aggressive mimicry, infiltrating the webs of cobweb weavers, orb weavers, and other spiders, then subduing their hosts with spider-specific venom. The family contains approximately 200 species across 12 genera worldwide, with highest diversity in the Neotropics. North America hosts 18 described species in three genera, with another ten species awaiting formal description. These small spiders (typically 3–7 mm body length) are characterized by long leg spines and distinctive eye arrangements.