On a quick survey trek around the lawn—not exactly an epic journey... well, in terms of distance...—I heard a rustling in the leaves and quickly spotted the "rustlers": a dark wasp hauling a moribund and quite large spider. I can't identify either member of the duo to species, but I know the wasp is one of the Pompilids, the spider-hunting solitary hymenopterans that specialize on victims belonging to the arachnid class Araneae. The predator won't eat the prey, but instead will use the spider as food for her youngster. After she captures the unfortunate arachnid, she injects a chemical that paralyzes the spider and keeps it fresh for a long time. Then she lays an egg in the victim and drags it to a burrow she's either made or will make. The egg-bearing prey is deftly shoved down the hole and buried, and in short order, the egg will hatch and the waspling will begin feeding on the still-living, albeit marginally, spider. When the meal is complete, the wasp larvae will pupate and wait for hatching time in the spring when the macabre cycle begins anew.