A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Armadillidium vulgare / Harmonia axyridis
More carnage on our front door step! I wasn't aware that wood louse were predators but this guy was certainly chowing down on the lady beetle.
Semi rural
9 Comments
Thanks guys!
Nancy, yes, I think the ladybug was already deceased but I was still surprised as I thought that pill bugs were herbivores.
Roly-polys (woodlice) aren't predators but scavengers and largely herbivorous (http://a-z-animals.com/animals/woodlouse...).
Eek!
Oh :(
I never thought that two of my most favourite insects were into a duel!
Great capture!
Wow awesome action shot Karen!
Thanks for the info jki & welcome to the community!
Actually, I can almost guarantee you that the beetle was already dead (probably having been stepped on), and the pillbug is instead scavenging from the corpse.
Woodlice aren't predatory in the least, but are scavengers of dead and dying plant matter, fungi, and dead animals, so this is almost certainly just a case of carrion feeding by this arthropod.
Thanks Cindy!
Cool spotting, Karen!