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The Flower Crab Spider


The Flower Crab Spider
Photo Information
Copyright: Jose Ramon Pato (JORAPAVI) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 668 W: 0 N: 1510] (10077)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006
Camera: Canon 20D, Sigma 150mm F2.8 APO Macro DG HSM
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-11-09 9:29
Viewed: 814
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Spanish]
Misumena vatia (Clerck 1757)
European spider of the year 2006

The first European Spider of the Year, chosen for 2006, is the flower crab spider – Misumena vatia (Clerck 1757). Like all crab spiders, Misumena has crab-like legs rotated onto their sides, which give the family its name. The front legs are longer than the back legs. It differs from other European species by its ability to change colour from yellow to white.
Biology and maturity time
The flower crab spider is, like other members of this family, a sit-and-wait predator. It mostly lurks among flower petals waiting for insects to fly by. With the small back legs the spider holds itself steady. The front legs, which are held outwards, are much more powerful, and grab an unsuspecting flower visitor with amazing speed, while at the same time a poisonous bite is administered. Prey is mostly eaten on the flower and is sucked dry through tiny holes, such that an almost complete exoskeleton is left over.
Flower crab spiders are, thanks to their ability to change colour, wonderfully camouflaged on both white and yellow flowers. This active process can only be carried out by adult females and takes a couple of days to complete. Scientific studies suggest that this camouflage makes the spiders hard to see; both for their prey and for potential predators.


Mature spiders can be found from May to July. The much smaller males mate with females in early summer, spending some time on the abdomen of the female and hanging from the underside of it during the mating process. The egg sac is typically hidden between leaves, woven together with silk. Juveniles over-winter in leaf litter and develop to adulthood in the following year

http://www.european-arachnology.org/
Runnerduck, AndyB, Alex99, pankajbajpai, ddg, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Four amazing images, each worthy of their own post.
Superb detail, pov and dof.
Very good work. My only nit would be the rather distracting border.
Thanks for posting.

Hi Jose,
A great combination of images giving a complete view of this interesting spider.Lovely selection of colours and tones.Clarity and detail down to the hairs on its legs.I agree regarding the border...bit of a clash.TFS
Regards, david

Hello
Great photos. I like esepecially the yellow one. Very good idea.
thanks
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1148 W: 254 N: 2555] (11565)
  • [2006-11-09 10:30]

Hi Jose,

Great composition of this 4 crabspiders,colorfull and detailed,the only nit IMO is the border which does not fit in the composition,

Regards,

Paul

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2042 W: 6 N: 2025] (13277)
  • [2006-11-09 10:32]

estimado José, quedo gratamente sorprendido por estas maravillosas composiciones... muchos saludos

Hola Jose,
bonita composición que nos muestra bien a las distintas arañas. Los colores son bonitos y el marco está bien.
Gracias,
Arnaud.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2006-11-09 11:05]

Hello Jose,
Excellent shots of this interesting spider.
Nicely presented,colourful and detailed work.
My personal favourite is the one on the yellow flower.
Great work,well done.

TFS

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3043 W: 148 N: 4547] (14679)
  • [2006-11-09 11:34]

Hi Jose.
I like this kind of spider very much. Your collage is perfect. You have presented this cute insect excellently. Perfect colour palette of each shot, nice detailed images, wonderful composition. Well done and TFS.
Alexei.

Hola Jose Ramon.

Excelentes las cuatro fotos y la explicacion.
Yo que habia tomado alguna foto de estas arañas cangrejo no tenia idea de todo esto y me parece muy interesante.

Un saludo.

bonjour josé
encore un autre tres belle composition,chaqu'une des 4 photos est reussi avec l'araignée de la couleur de sont environnement.bravo et merci.
laurent

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-11-09 14:04]

Una hermosa composición Jose con la muestra del nivel de mimetismo que posee para cambiar de color de acuerdo al entorno.
Cuatro imágenes bien capturadas, con foco y nitidez, cada una con su encanto, su fondo bien logrado y excelente iluminación, permitiendo verlas con lujo de detalles.
Si tuviese que criticar algo, sólo haría mención al marco elegido, que personalmente no es el más adecuado para esta presentación.
Un cordial saludo... Ricardo

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2006-11-09 14:19]

Wonderful selection of shots. Individually they are all excellent with great sharpness, POV, DOF and colours. Together it is a great study of this spiders ability to blend into it's surroundings

TFS

Karan

Jose,
I prefer single images...but the photography is excellent.
Well done!
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 139 W: 50 N: 384] (2310)
  • [2006-11-09 21:33]

Nice presentation except frame. Excellent details.
TFS Jose.

hi jose.
beautiful compilation of such lovely pictures. the spiders look very clear sharp and so colourful.
very well done.
tfs
regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1010 W: 285 N: 3341] (11046)
  • [2006-11-10 14:43]

Hola Jose,
four excellent pictures of this spider. Each one deserves 2 points: sharpness, points of view and colours are pretty good.
Best wishes, Peter

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2006-11-10 16:54]

Hola José Ramón,
Bonito montaje que muestra esta habilidad de camuflaje. Nítidas y bien iluminadas, resultan perfectas juntas. Buena nota.
José M.

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 881 W: 23 N: 927] (4997)
  • [2006-11-16 14:56]

Hi Jose, another gret composition with crab spider familly!! Nice details and beautiful colors too. Interesting note. Good job. Best regards, Didier.

Hello Jose!
Another great presentation of crab spiders - I start to think that this is your favourite group of spiders :)
Very good combination of four fantastic photos! All of them have very good DOF and interesting POV. I also like the way how you presented this species - a few colour varietes which allow to see diversity of colour forms in this species. Bravo and TFS!
Note as always is very informative :)
Greetings from Lodz,
Radomir

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