1. These stages, during which the Backswimmer molts and grows, are called “instars.” Backswimmers undergo five instars that last about

2. The male is unmistakable in spring finery, but before fall migration he molts into a striped brown appearance like that of the female. Bobolinks in this plumage

3. The wasp larva then molts, kills the spider with a poison and sucks its body dry before discarding it and building a cocoon that hangs from the middle of the web the spider has just built.