Hmmm, what parallel can we draw from the battle of size and tensile strength in the grass?
On a nature hike a few weeks ago, I observed the characteristic whitish flutter-flight of a Mantis. I made my way to the spot where the European Mantis landed and discovered that it was caught in the web of a Banded Garden Spider. For reference, a European Mantis can reach 3.5 inches in size while a Banded Garden Spider maxes out at one inch.
The spider scurried across its web to attack the trapped prey. But it stopped and backed away when it saw the size of the insect caught in its web. I observed the encounter play out for a minute or two as the Mantis struggled to free itself and the Spider observed from a safe distance. I imagined a verbal exchange between them something like the following.
Mantis: Damn! Caught in a spider web. Should have scoped out this spot before I landed.
Spider: Lunch!… Crap, that’s a Mantis. It could easily eat me. Better back off and think about my plan of attack.
Mantis: I see you, spider. Don’t get any ideas. I am the apex insect predator in this area. I’ll take you out in a heartbeat!
Spider: But you’re caught in my web. You’re completely helpless.
Mantis: Helpless? Don’t flatter yourself. I’m three times your size.
Spider: I have venom that will paralyze you. All I need is one bite.
Mantis: Come at me and see what happens. I’ll bite your head off with one chomp.
Spider: I’m patient. I’ll just wait here until you wear yourself out struggling to get free. Then I’ll take you down.
Mantis: You think your puny web can hold me?
Spider: My web is incredibly tough and elastic. It has a higher strength-to-wait ratio than steel.
Mantis: Oh yeah? Well I can lift 1.5 times my body weight. Think about that, tough guy.
I moved on to continue my hike while the stand-off played out. As I look back on it now, I wonder whether size or tensile strength ultimately prevailed – and how we can take a lesson from that for own lives. I’ll leave that to you to decide.
~ Now Available Online from Amazon, Chapters Indigo or Barnes & Noble: Hunting Muskie, Rites of Passage – Stories by Michael Robert Dyet
~ Michael Robert Dyet is also the author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel (now out of print) which was a double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com .
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Tags: Banded Garden Spider · Donald Trump · European Mantis · metaphor · Michael Robert DyetNo Comments