An Ambusher #2

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An Ambusher #2
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 139 N: 3764] (9894)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
Categories: Insects
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Camouflage, Arthropods from Turkey & Cyprus [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-12 1:56
Viewed: 537
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Misumena vatia (Flower Crab Spider-female) & Maniola telmessia (Turkish Meadow Brown-male)

Dear Friends, Yesterday I have uploaded a predator-prey capture between a “flower crab spider” and a “honey bee”. Today, I am sharing an another shot with you showing a similar ambusher scene, but now you can see a “white” flower crab spider which it ambushed a butterfly (Maniola telmessia male) on a white flower. Turkish Meadow Brown was dried by the crab spider on the flower and thus its colour seems a bit darker than that of a living one. I am sure that this scene is showing a tragic moment for a butterfly, but a good moment for a spider :). However, this is a reality of life!


Hoping that you like this shot!

Cheers,

Bayram

Ps.The butterfly's ID was corrected after the comments and suggestions by my dear friend, Ivan. I check the internet sources and I saw that Ivan is right :-). Thanks a lot Ivan!

*****************************

Crab spiders make up the Thomisidae family of the Araneae (spiders) order which are most familiar of arachnids. They are called crab spiders because they resemble crabs, with two front pairs of legs angled outward and bodies that are flattened and often angular. Also, like crabs, Thomisidae can move sideways or backwards. They are very maneuverable in tight places.

Crab spiders do not build webs to trap prey. They are hunters and ambushers. Crab spiders are no active hunters. They make more use of the camouflage techniques than other spiders and catch their prey with their front legs. The color of the spider is adapted to the hunting terrain they use and is mostly extravagant. They remain unmoved until the prey arrives and catches it. With a poisonous bite (not dangerous to humans) they kill their prey and suck it dry. They can be found on flowers or leaves of plants. Often the crab spider remains for days, even weeks at the same spot. The front two legs, that are often larger and stronger than the other six, are held sideways, ready to catch the prey immediately. When they spot a possible enemy they move quickly at the other site of the flower or leave. Their eyesight is excellent developed as can be seen on the pictures. They have normally two big front eyes. Though their chelicerae, or jaws, are rather small and slender, many crab spiders possess potent venoms that quickly immobilize their prey. Flower spiders, a particular type of crab spider, rest on flowers and remain motionless for long periods of time with their front two pairs of legs extended in readiness. They ambush butterflies, bees, flies, and other flower visitors; their venoms enable them to successfully attack insects much larger than themselves. They do not wrap their prey in silk after biting, but instead remain with the immobilized prey until they have sucked it dry.

Misumena vatia sit on or among flowers where they grab visiting insects. It can change its color between white and yellow (sometimes pale green with thin red lines on abdomen) to match the flower it sits on. Its size is between 4 - 8 mm. Males very much smaler than the females. Other species, with their flattened bodies, hunt in the crevices of tree trunks or under loose bark. Members of the genus Xysticus hunt in the leaf litter on the ground. In each case, crab spiders use their powerful front legs to grab and hold onto prey while paralyzing it with a venomous bite.

As can be seen on my capture they can catch butterflies (in this case a Turkish Meadow Brown male). The spider seizes the butterfly by its front legs and bites it in the neck. The spider keeps its hold on the bee till the bee gives up its resistance.

References:

1. Wikipedia .
2. Chinery, M. (1986). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe, Collins, Glasgow, 320 pp.
iris, zulfu, nkasot, yasemin, haraprasan, Juyona, bahadir, xTauruSx, eng55, jaycee, kaytan, gerbilratz, Gert-Paassen, maurydv, Jamesp, goldyrs, gannu, montivipera, jpdenk, Argus, cypturk has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Hi friend and thanksboreocypriensis 1 05-13 13:17
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 39 N: 651] (2047)
  • [2008-05-12 2:38]

Hello Bayram,
A wonderful capture showing the butterfly being ambushed by the spider. The thumbnail ofcourse gives one no clue about this until u read the headline.Good macro composed quite creattively.
Well done.
TFS & Cheers

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-05-12 2:44]

Hi Bayram Hocam, amazing capture showing a predator-prey interaction with a well camouflaged spider. Great moment and splendid capture. Many thanks for sharing this important document. Regards,
Mehmet

Bayra Hocam pusucu serisi bir hayli güzel olacak gibi. Yine çok iyi kamufle olmuş bir örümcek. Zamanlaması mükemmel bir kare. Elinize sağlık.
Kıbrıs'tan selamlar,

Nazım

Hello Brother, I am sure that you have great eyesight to see such minute case. Splendid shot, nice details and a fine composition. Many thanks and regards, Leyla

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this deardful crab spider holding the beautiful ringed butterfly. What a sight. Oh the butterfly must be really in pain. But capture wise a lovely capture with sharp details and very good composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2073 W: 6 N: 1848] (12714)
  • [2008-05-12 3:30]

Hola amigo,
excelente captura,
mortal abrazo...
detalles y buen pov.
saludos Bay.

Hi Hocam,
An excellent predator-prey action capture again! Also it shows the camouflage very well, it's really hard to see the spider. TFS.
Regards
Naşit

Merhaba Bayram hocam, yine mükemmel bir zamanlama ve nefis bir av-avcı görüntüsü.Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Mükemmel bir kamuflaj mekanizması. Beyaz örümceği beyaz çiçek üzerinde ilk bakışta ben de farketmedim. Zavallı kelebek nasıl farketsin. Olan ona olmuş:) Nefis bir çekim. Teşekkürler.
Saygılar,
Deniz

Hi Bayram

Great capture of the butterfly's last moments.
Good comosition and sharpness. Ithink the colours look OK.

Chris

Hi Bayram, this time I look for spider, but also in this photo great camouflage:), poor Maniola, don't look for the spider and was killed, great capture for you (and for the spider too) great documentation with excellent sharpness and wonderful details, I like a lot, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 335 W: 3 N: 370] (1093)
  • [2008-05-12 7:28]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Bu sefer dikkatliyim ve kamuflaja rağmen yengeç örümceğini farkettim:)Bu da çok başarılı bir çalışma.TEbrikler,ellerinize sağlık!

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-12 8:20]

Hi Bayram,
Oh......what a dreadful scene this is and I pity that butterfly. Great action moment and you have captured it so nicely. These flower crab spiders are very swift and can take big insects by surprise. I also have a few shots posted. Very neat and sharp image with nice colours and perfect lighting. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-05-12 9:28]

Hi Bayram,

A wonderful shot showing clearly the spider's attack on the butterfly. The poor Meadow Brown probably never saw it on the white flower. Excellent presentation of this fact of nature.

Jane

Hi Bayram, you get better every time.. this is an amazing capture, a capture of a capture.. great details and an excellent composition.. best regards h

Hello bayram,


Beautiful shot of the spider and the butterfly.

Gert

Splendido momento di cattura di un acuto osservatore, eccellenti POV e DOF, molto bella la composizione, ottima nitidezza e straordinari dettagli, molto belli i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
  • [2008-05-12 14:14]

Hi Bayram

Great close up with pleny of detail in the wings. Excellent isolation of the subject too.

James

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5087] (17953)
  • [2008-05-12 14:56]

What an excellent macro Bayram!!
You have eagle-eyes to spot this!
Very good detail and excellent sharpness.
Brilliant POV and composition.
Great DOF.
Thanks for sharing this!

Joe

Hey dear bro, now this shot is superb!Simply awesome, not just because it's a great shot, but coz it yours, and 'coz we're getting to see a very different side of you, which at least i love..
Thanks bro!
Goldy

  •      
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8606)
  • [2008-05-13 4:58]

Hello Bayram,
Your shot is nice and bautiful. Excellent sharpness and lovely composition. Well defined note and good view. Ganesh will be back

Hello Bayram,

Ah, more nature "red in tooth and claw". The spider is only eating, can't blame it for following its instincts, but it always seems more upsetting to see a "pretty" insect or other animal get killed and eaten.

Thanks for sharing that,
John

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 132 N: 6649] (20861)
  • [2008-05-13 11:29]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
Another superb capture of a crab-spider with its prey. Technically excellent with good sharpness and details.
However it would have been nice to see the upper surface of the wings as we have an ID problem here. There are two other very similar Maniola species in SW Turkey. M. telmessia and M. halicarnassus which even more difficult to tell apart but to me the eye-markings on the wings suggest that this M. telmessia rather than M. jurtina.
TFS this fine image my friend,
Best wishes, Ivan

hi again dear friend, this is anothe beautiful picture of a beautiful little butterbly, great work Bayram,
kind regards
franco

Another cold-blooded killer shot perfectly... poor bytterfly :D... tfs... cypturk

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