redback

While not particularly thrilled to find this lady in my letter box this afternoon, I was delighted with the photo opportunity and to have Space’s 1996 Latin tinged classic bopping about in my head for the rest of the day…

A thousand thundering thrills await me
Facing insurmountable odds gratefully
The female of the species is more deadly than the male

The Redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) – my first siting of one of Australia’s thirty seven million critters that will kill you. Wikipedia informs me that the Redback is one of two animal species in which the much smaller male assists the female in sexual cannibalism during mating – he’s a willing participant in his own demise. Whilst engaged in the act of love, the hapless little boy lowers his bits into his special lady friend’s jaws. With a climactic chomp, the deed – and the dad – are done.

Oh she deals in witchcraft and one kiss and I’m zapped
Oh how can heaven hold a place for me
When a girl like you has cast a spell on me

This voluntary decision to become his lover’s main course gives the poor fellow a reproductive advantage over his undigested colleagues. The lady, sated in more ways than one, is more likely to send other males packing.

Oh she wants to conquer the world completely
But first she’ll conquer me discreetly
The female of the species is more deadly than the male

It’s wintertime in South Australia and love is in the air.

dinner

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Space’s 1996 LP “Spiders” is available from Space - Spiders.

 
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