Spider and Prey - but only if you like spiders!

[Geoff F]

If you are bothered about seeing a spider eating a fly don't look now! Real life nature shot.

These Misumena vatia spiders have just started appearing again after the winter. I'm always amazed how they can catch flies and even bumblebees which are much larger than themselves; and they do it just by hiding on a flower then leaping out and grabbing anything which comes close - no webs.

This one, a female, has caught a Rhingia hoverfly.



And from nearby an interesting and somewhat uncommon bug. Corizus hyoscyami



ps. This year I have been uploading most of my insect photos to a UK Wildlife site instead of posting here. Some of them are on my P base galleries.

http://m1.i.pbase.com/t9/49/898249/4...1.Zp0tMB5s.jpg

Is it time to start another general insect thread on CinC where anybody can post their insect photos or is it preferable for people to post individually in separate threads? What do members think?

[JohnRostron]

Is it time to start another general insect thread on CinC where anybody can post their insect photos or is it preferable for people to post individually in separate threads? What do members think?

Great pics Geoff. I have only been with CiC for six months. do find that I would prefer if the Nature threads were separated from the Architecture ones. Just separating out insects would be a bit too specialised.
I would be happy to keep the landscapes in though.

John

[Shadowman]

I've seen worse feedings, at least this displays less carnage. Nicely captured.

[James G]

Geoff, two beautiful captures.

I think my preference is to keep the categories as they are and relatively broad. I think that members who are less experienced in photography, get a wider experience of the genres and techniques as a result.

[Geoff F]

What I was meaning by starting a separate thread wasn't splitting the categories into extra segments but what we have done in other years is for one person to start a 'Post Your . . .' thread and invite anybody else to add their images by way of reply.

The last Post Your Insects thread did run for two years and I think there were over 80 pages by the end of last year's northern insect season.

This should link to the old thread.

Post your insects

[James G]

Sorry Geoff, my misunderstanding. I remember the thread you are referring to.
I'd be happy to add my macro captures to a general thread.


'

[Aeros]

These are great, Geoff, you have obviously mastered this genre, Kudos.

[IzzieK]

I do not dislike spiders but I would love to photograph them...as for the flies, they are better off with my flyswatter then feed it to the spiders. Nicely caught anyway and very sharp. Does the word "cannibalism" exists in the the bug world? I like both shots but I would rather prefer the second one to have more vibrancy...but then, that is just me...

[JohnRostron]

Does the word "cannibalism" exists in the the bug world.

I don't know about the word, but the phenomenon does very much so, Izzie. Many predatory bugs have the mantra: if it moves, eat it. This I not confined to spiders either.

John

[Barbara Ponder]

Excellent shots and fascinating that the tiny spider can catch such big prey!

[Geoff F]

I think the second bug may have lost a bit of 'zip' during uploading, Izzie, but they are so reflective that a dull day is needed to photograph them.