A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Misumenoides formosipes
Woodland habitat
This crab spider had some wanted/unwanted guests. I couldn't tell if this was a symbiotic relationship of not. Wish I could have gotten the photo with the fly on its nose sharp:( Funny though:)
Spotted on Aug 21, 2014
Submitted on Aug 23, 2014
8 Comments
Thanks Aaron:) It was an interesting find.
I love photo #3.
Thanks for commenting Marta, Hema Shah, Sckel, and Rob! Hema Shah, that's exactly what I was thinking. Thank you for your insight Sckel, on the kleptoparasites flies. I found a study linking these flies to crab spiders in the fact that they may both attracted to pheromones of true bugs. I didn't fully understand it the first time through, but will try and read it again to make some sense out of it:)
Awesome shots Bill
these are kleptoparasites flies; maybe Milichiidae
maybe a clean up crew? Eating the leftovers?
Strange flies! going right into the spiders mouth...suicidal!? naive? :-)
Thanks magazhu! I'm a bit of a pixel peeper, and that can be a hindrance, that's for sure:)