Saturday 23 June 2012

Sunday safari

 The crab spider took three days to change colour.   She hunts on the surface of the Arum Lily.
 She guards her food store which is kept inside the bloom.   Several small insects are on the menu.
 A long horned beetle arrives..........
 The spider approaches and gives the beetle a warning........
He takes note, and disappears into the nearby vegetation.

Happy Sunday Safari.
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21 comments:

  1. Cheryl23 June 2012 at 23:58

    The wrong date has appeared on several post recently.....I have tried, and tried to correct it but for some reason cannot.
    I have given up.....

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  2. elaine 24 June 2012 at 01:08

    Amazing pics Cheryl - how long did you have to wait for the action to happen - I have never seen a white spider before. Loved your Sunday Safari.

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 05:35

      Hi Elaine,

      Took a week from start to finish. She arrived last Monday and was pale green, she changed to white over a few days. Then I popped backwards and forward to see how the hunting was going.
      Crab spiders are common in SE UK. They always fascinate me :)

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  3. Lisa at Greenbow24 June 2012 at 03:56

    What drama in the garden. Aren't those crab spiders facinating?? That was one lucky beetle to get away. Happy Sunday Safari.

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 05:37

      Hi Lisa,

      Nature never ceases to amaze me. I have watched the Crab spider hunt many times over the last few years. I watched a female catch a bumble bee once.....sad for me.

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  4. Anonymous24 June 2012 at 05:47

    Hi,

    Crab spiders give me the creeps... Well, most spiders do, especially when looking at them through photos! They don't seem to bad in real life; that is until last year when I realised how large the fangs are on nursery web spiders... I felt rather sick after!
    Reminds me, I need to post a video of wolf spiders mating and a parasitic wasp carrying its pray to its nest - a spider easily 5 times its size :)

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 06:30

      Ha Liz, you surprise me....I did not think you would be frightened by any garden insect.
      I was cleaning the greenhouse one year, and found a pair of spiders. I picked them up to put them to safety and one of them bit me ! I must confess it surprised me, because I was not expecting it........but I still like spiders and still pick them up. At the end of the day they are just tiny creatures going about their business :)
      I especially like the Crab Spider......

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  5. ShySongbird24 June 2012 at 06:37

    Wonderful observations Cheryl, and lovely photos! That little beetle had a lucky escape :-)

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 07:30

      Hi Jan,

      Thank you Jan, indeed the beetle did have a lucky escape.....

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  6. Q24 June 2012 at 07:27

    Dear Cheryl,
    You are a true naturalist! I too enjoy watching spiders! They are simply amazing critters.
    The way the Crab Spider changes colors is really cool. Nature provides all sorts of interesting survival adaptations..
    Thank you for giving us the story of the Long Horned Beetle and the Crab Spider and the role the Arum Liliy played....I love the relationships in the garden.
    Happy to see your sunshine. We are to have 100 degrees Fahrenheit ( 38 C) this afternoon.
    I shall make sure the critters have water.....and than I will take shelter indoors.
    Wonderful safari!
    Sherry, who is mopping her brow

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 07:35

      HI Sherry,

      I believe the female crab spider can change from white to yellow or green, depending on her surroundings of course.
      The Arum Lily was the perfect stage.......

      100F, oh my, no wonder you are mopping your brow. That is too hot for me, I think I would be inside as well.
      Hoping rain comes your way and temperatures cool down a little....

      Cheryl, who never forgets her rain hat :)

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  7. Anonymous24 June 2012 at 11:33

    Wow Cheryl those photos are amazing! I especially love the first one.
    She is rather gorgeous, albeit in a scary kind of way. The ultimate femme fatal! xxx

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 13:13

      Well Lucinda, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My father taught me at a very early age, that all spiders are beautiful :)
      She is a little bit scary......I expect she thinks the same about us.

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  8. NCmountainwoman24 June 2012 at 13:36

    Smart move, Beetle. I'm not fond of spiders although I do appreciate the good work they do for us. Just let them stay outside where they belong and we can live in harmony.

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 13:42

      Ha....nicely put, although you do have a way with words that always makes me smile :)

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  9. Wendy24 June 2012 at 14:32

    What an amazing story. I've never seen a crab spider change colour. Never took notice.
    Lucky for the beetle to make his escape.
    Nice pics - thank you for sharing.

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 22:46

      Hi Wendy,

      Watching the spider was amazing but then nature is just that !!

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  10. Crystal24 June 2012 at 14:46

    Ooh, I was sure it was curtains for the beetle. I'd say that was a happy ending, but the spider wouldn't agree.

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    1. Cheryl24 June 2012 at 22:48

      Hi Crystal,

      I thought so too! Beetle was very lucky...... the spider had enough food in its larder......

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  11. Rose25 June 2012 at 04:56

    Thanks for this up-close look at the drama in the insect world. I'm amazed by the patience you have, Cheryl, to have taken these fantastic photos--better than a National Geographic documentary!

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    1. Cheryl25 June 2012 at 07:15

      Too kind Rose, but thank you very much, I am pleased you enjoyed them.

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