<< Previous Next >>

An Ambusher :-) for Dietrich #1


An Ambusher :-) for Dietrich #1
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4129 W: 156 N: 5418] (14462)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Haraprasan's Favs, Bayram's dedications, Camouflage, annick vanderschelden's favourites, Arthropods from Turkey & Cyprus [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-11 1:58
Viewed: 764
Points: 72
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Misumena vatia (Flower Crab Spider) (A Female)

Dear Friends, I think you noticed that I was not available in TN yesterday since we conducted a daily herpetological trip to Ödemis (Izmir). During our trip I observed and photographed many interesting natural phenomena:) and today I am sharing one of them with you.

I would like to dedicate this shot of a crab spider predation to one of our experienced friends in TN, Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) who is an expert on insects and photographing them to thank him for his valuable contributions to TN . Thanks a lot once more for your significant contributions my dear friend, Dietrich!

Hoping that you like this shot! Have a great Sunday my all beloved friends!

Cheers,

Bayram

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

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 honey bees (Apis mellifera). The spider seizes the bee 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.
haraprasan, Jamesp, zulfu, nkasot, xTauruSx, yasemin, SelenE, bahadir, cicindela, gpeler, spalaxtr, nirmalroberts, gerbilratz, meyerd, jaycee, matatur, marhowie, rousettus, Miss_Piggy, gannu, jpdenk, eng55, uleko, degani, montivipera, bahar, vanderschelden, cypturk has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rousettus: selam Hacıboreocypriensis 1 05-11 16:01
To matatur: Sağol Hocaboreocypriensis 1 05-11 13:18
To meyerd: Hi Dietrichboreocypriensis 1 05-11 13:12
To Gert-Paassen: :) Hi Gertboreocypriensis 1 05-11 10:28
To Silvio2006: Hi Silvio:)boreocypriensis 2 05-11 09:26
To Mana: Thanksboreocypriensis 1 05-11 09:22
To mariki: Hhanksboreocypriensis 1 05-11 08:36
To gpeler: Selam Gamze Hanımboreocypriensis 1 05-11 08:28
To zulfu: :)boreocypriensis 1 05-11 02:59
To haraprasan: Hi my dear friend Haraprasanboreocypriensis 1 05-11 02:14
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bayram,
A fine capture of this crab spider along with the bee. A superb capture with excellent timing. Very good details and a fine composition. Well seen. Goes to my Favs. Thanks a lot for sharing my friend.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1296 W: 0 N: 5061] (15084)
  • [2008-05-11 2:34]

Hi Bayram

Outstanding shot - you must have excellent eyesight to see this type of shot. Great DOF and exposure plus lovely colour too.

James

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 572 W: 0 N: 100] (609)
  • [2008-05-11 2:56]
  • [+]

Hocam walla hic durmadınız. Dün pişirdiniz bugün verdiniz. Gerçekten mükemmel bir anı sabitlediniz. Bize verdiğiniz Fotoğraf tekniği dersininin uygulama sonuçlarını burada en iyi şekilde görebiliyoruz. Hem de bu küçücük hayvanları en nefis detaylar ile. Olağanüstü bir an ve mükemmel bir çekim olmuş. Elinize emeğinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Hi Bayram Hocam, amazing shot showing a predator-prey interaction along with a well camouflaging example in nature. Great shot and splendid details.
Greetings from Cyprus,

Nazım

Hi Bayram, great macro with busy bee and elegant flower, good details, beautiful colors and splendid sharpness, very well done, have a good Sunday, ciao Silvio

Bayram Hocam valla bugün bunu koyacağınızdan emindim. Bir serinin başlangıcı:) numaradan belli. Gerçekten mükemmel olmuş. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

Bayram bu minnacik hayvanlari nasil boyle harika ceken anlamam. orumcecik ariyi yerken cekmissin. gercekten takdir edilecek bir fotograf. eline saglik. selamlar. Leyla

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2404 W: 63 N: 3949] (12710)
  • [2008-05-11 3:58]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Guzel zamanlama ve iyi bir poz yakalamissiniz. Detaylar, netlik, kompozisyon ve isik cok guzel. Elinize saglik
Selamlar

Merhaba Hocam,
Nasıldı Ödemiş, çilek topladınız mı? :D Ben de xanthina için gidecektim ama kısmet olmadı.
Fotoğrafa gelince, her zamanki gibi mükemmel bir makro çekim. Arının iğnesine varıncaya kadar tüm detaylar mükemmel. Örümcek de çok güzel. Paylaşım için teşekkürler!
Saygılar
Naşit

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2711 W: 139 N: 7830] (24389)
  • [2008-05-11 4:29]

Hello again Bayram,
I hope Dietrich sees this excellent macro of a crab spider and its honey bee prey because he is sure to appreciate both this image and your tribute to him.
Your macro photography is of a very high standard and this shot is not only sharp with good DOF, from a fine POV and with great colours, but beautifully composed.
TFS this beauty,
Cheers,
Ivan

Selam Hocam, dünkü yorucu günün ardından sadece dün göstermediğiniz bu çekimi görmek için uyandım:) Gerçekten nefismiş. Her yönüyle 4/4'lük. Ben yine uyumaya devam edeyim:) Teşekkürler. Bahadır

Hi Bayram!
Very nice dedication to Dietrich, I believe he will like it :)
The quality (and moment!) of the picture is very good, all: DOF, POV, sharpness and details are kept in professional way.
Tragic moment for a bee, a good dinner for a spider - that's a life :)
All the best from Lodz!
Radek

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Bu ilginç yakın çekim fotoğraflarınız imsan çatlatır yani. Ellerine sağlık harika bir fotoğraf.
Selamlar
Gamze:)

Bayram merhaba,
Yazıyı okumasam örümceği fark etmeyecektim. Çok ilginç ve güzel bir foto. Örümcek inanılmaz iyi kamufle olmuş. Dietrich için güzel bir hediye. Eline sağlık. Selamlar
Mustafa

Hello Bayram,

Excellent composition, sharpness, colours. Splendid! I have the impression you enjoy very much to take macro of insects! Go on :-)!
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Bayram,
Excellent picture.
TFS.
- Nirmal

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1770 W: 29 N: 5156] (16888)
  • [2008-05-11 9:16]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram,
Wonderful shot with immaculate sharpness and lovely colours. The yellow spider looks well camouflaged with the yellow flowers and the Honey Bee surely did not site it. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello Bayram,

Very sharp macroshot with busy bee.
Great of detail and beautiful colours.


Gert

Bayram!!! this is just a very good image, details, colours and composition all very good, you learn well...

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1871 W: 8 N: 4868] (15759)
  • [2008-05-11 12:17]

Hi Bayram,

What timing to get this fantastic shot! You caught the action perfectly. The poor bee probably never saw the spider - it is so well cammouflaged. A superb macro - outstanding details of the bee, spider, and flower.

Jane

Hi Bayram,
an honour, your dedication, thank you very much for your kind words. Coming from you, this means a lot to me.
I like TN contributions with solid informations like this one about the nice Misumena spider, excellently presented in full "action". The composition with the flower, the light coming from the side is so good. You gotexcellent DOF.
I try to be helpful too but my literature is largely limited to Europe without the Mediterranean. In this case my feeling is that the spider is rather a Thomisus onustus which I know to be widely distributed in the Mediterranean, at least the morphology of the cephalothorax and the double-pointed abdomen speak for it.

My best regards to you, Bayram
Dietrich

Mükemmel bir makro çekim, hoş kompozisyon ve nefis bir avcı-av ilişkisi, kutlarım Bayrab!
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 211 W: 0 N: 755] (3323)
  • [2008-05-11 13:26]

Hola Bayram, excelente macro, una composición acertada, nitida y con buen color y luz. Estas arañas Thomisido son pequeñas y ala vez unas grandes depredadoras que se atreven con todo. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1834 W: 243 N: 6032] (21484)
  • [2008-05-11 13:30]

Hi Geckoman!
Brilliant shot of this Crab Spider devouring it's prey!
Absolutely stunningly detailed with amazing clarity.
Superb lighting and brilliant colours.
Excellent composition.
Great DOF.
Well done Bayram!!!!!!!!

Joe :-D

Excellent work Bayram, a pleasure to view :)
Very well done & TFS!
Howard

demek dün de arazideydin:) yaz gelince hatta bahardan itibaren boş durmak olmuyor. biz zoologlar için hareketli dönem malum:) ben de birkaç kez bu sahneye rastladım (değişik bitkiler üzerinde). güzel çekim, netlik, renkler, ışık hepsi güzel. eline sağlık, selamlar.

Hallo Bayram
A fine dedication to Dietrich. Now this is the kind of image which I like to leave my comments. You have managed to capture these two insects in a great close up. Looking at the thumbnail I thought it is a bee on a yellow flower. Great was my surprise and delight to see the yellow crab spider part of the image as well. This is a beautiful three in one image and there is lots of detail in the image to appreciate. The fat body of the spider, the fine hairs on the bee and the clarity of the anthers on the flowers are just three of the many I things I can mention looking at this lovely photo. The focus and sharpness is spot on and the framing is done splendidly. Well seen and captured.
Kind regards
Anna

Hello Bayram,
Very interesting photo of a spectacular moment. Excellent macro in perfect sharpness and details. Amazing clear colours. Beautiful composition.
Kind regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 4 N: 2540] (11777)
  • [2008-05-12 3:48]

Hello Bayram
Absolutely wonderful. Excellent color of the spider and the sharpness. The yellow color is superb. Ganesh

Hello Bayram,

An excellent shot, really show the camouflage skills of the spider well. I usually don't see those kinds of spiders when taking flower shots until I am back at home looking at my photos and realize that there was a spider that I didn't see hiding in the flower.

Very nice image, good color and very sharp, excellent!

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 428 W: 3 N: 437] (1355)
  • [2008-05-12 7:26]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Arı ve çiçek makroları çok işlenen konulardan olmasına karşılık,bu fotografınız türünün en iyi örneklerinden biri.(Bu satırları yazarken yengeç örümceğini görmemişim,o kadar iyi kamufle olmuş ki görünce yukarıda yazdıklarımı da silmek istemedim:)Alan derinliği mükemmel,aksiyonu olabilecek en iyi yerden görüntülemişsiniz.Tebrikler,ellerinize sağlık!

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2544 W: 170 N: 7738] (24487)
  • [2008-05-12 9:28]

Hello Bayram,
Excellent macro of this yellow Crab Spider and its prey. It is amazing how they adapt their colour to their environment and this is very well illustrated here. Great sharpness and beautíful natural colours in this fine composition.
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • degani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 200 W: 0 N: 289] (2174)
  • [2008-05-12 13:43]

hi dear friend, many compliments fo this beautiful macro, the composition and the colours are simply perfect, bravo Bayram
kind regards
franco

  • Great 
  • bahar Silver Star Critiquer [C: 30 W: 0 N: 6] (46)
  • [2008-05-14 9:08]

Merhabalar hocam
Çekim güzel olmuş. Elinize sağlık.
Bahar

Hello Bayram,
Wonderful image. Beautiful light. Most interesting content. Well composed.
Accurate DOF.
Congrats
Annick

Yet again this cold-blooded killer! Realy great ambusher :P... tfs uncle... kind regards, cypturk

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF