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Thread: Missed an easy meal

  1. #1

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    Missed an easy meal

    This Misumena vatia spider was lurking on a flower waiting for something to come too close when a Platycheirus granditarsus hoverfly sneaked in behind it for a quick sip of Fleabane nectar.

    Missed an easy meal

    Eventually the spider realised what was happening and attempted to stealthily turn around; but the fly was too quick for it and easily escaped.

    Missed an easy meal

  2. #2
    Shadowman's Avatar
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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Nice set.

  3. #3
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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Very cool. In the first image I could not even see the creature , but my eyes were taken to the hoverfly of course. That spiders body is wild! Never seen anything like it. Thanks for sharing. Great images!

  4. #4

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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Never seen a spider like that Geoff. Nice capture. I do like happy endings.

  5. #5

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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Excellent captures, Geoff.

  6. #6

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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Nicely captured. All those eyes but none in the back of its head

  7. #7

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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Our monthly competition, here in, North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand, is "Colour on colour". Your second image would be an "Honours", I have no doubt! Perhaps a bit of a crop on the left.

  8. #8
    gramps's Avatar
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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Wow, took me a moment to spot the spider, great photos.

  9. #9

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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    I like it

  10. #10
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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Geoff are these commonly referred to as crab spiders? The ones we see here are usually more white but sometimes greenish and yellowish. They are shy and tiny! I think the stripes or lack of stripes denote which sex but I'm not sure if yours is male. Nice ones :-)

  11. #11
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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    That was a feast of yellow; love them

  12. #12

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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Both very nice Geoff, #2 is special

  13. #13
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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Quote Originally Posted by NorthernFocus View Post
    Nicely captured. All those eyes but none in the back of its head
    Obviously, it's not a mother, Dan...

    Yellow spider as yellow as the flower. Fleabane is white in this part of my pond...especially in Illinois. Nice story.

  14. #14

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    Re: Missed an easy meal

    Thanks for the comments. Misumena vatia is one member of the group which are generally termed crab spiders. This species can be mostly white or yellow with various other markings and will gradually change colour to suit the surroundings.

    It is a female; males look quite different and are mostly a dark brownish colour. They are only half the size of females.

    They don't spin webs but just lie in wait, disguised by a suitably coloured flower, until something comes too close. They will tackle rather risky prey such as bumblebees which are larger than themselves.

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