I wonder if anyone can identify the spider above. Ann and sister in law Judy called me out to the garden to look at a white spider that was on a white rose. Judy was watching it this morning eating a fly, although it doesn't appear to have spun a web. I have never seen anything like it. It might be about an inch across the front legs. Judy hazarded the opinion that it might be a young Black Widow spider that is still in its bridal dress? Any serious suggestion would be welcomed. Both Rog and Crowbard are, of course, absolved from the serious bit. Although in the photograph the body appears to be a pale green, it looks nearer a white colour in fact.
10 comments:
Our good friend Sue Parker has just 'phoned to tell me that the spider I photoed is the misumena crab spider. I've googled it a t sue's suggestion, and she is, of course, absolutely right. This spider has the remarkable ability to change its colour to that of any flower it is inhabiting. Hence - it's a white spider on a white rose in my photo. It'd be interesting to transfer it to a red rose and see what happened.
Thanks Sue. I knew I could rely on you.
P.s. I', afraid I have misquoted Sue. I should have said :- it is a misumena vatia, or crab spider.
Probably a female Misumena vatia, Mike.
A white crab spider, they can slowly change colour to match their background, body width is 5-10 mm.
It's not Shelob then?
I remember a description of a crab spider from My Family and Other Animals so, although I haven't seen one I thought that was what it must be. I haven't read the book for 40 years or more, but I still remember him saying how he put one onto a white rose where it stayed, and the colour ebbed away over the course of days. Maybe this camouflage is the reason we rarely notice them?
Hello Sir B. Different colour, different size, but otherwise fairly Shelob-like. However, when you remember that the vast Shelob was slain by a Hobbit, I don't think we've too much to worry about.
Hello Z. That was a lovely book. The spider on a white rose was quite difficult to spot, and I was tempted to move her to a red rose to see what happened. Then I remembered the old story of a Scottish boy who put his pet chameleon on a piece of tartan to see what would happen. The chameleon burst. Do you know, I think that story may be from the same book???
As I share a birthday with Bilbo Baggins, I suppose it is not surprising that I don't have an issue with spiders. Lady B on the other hand.........
BTW, I'd welcome your opinion on the picture in my post dated 31st August.
Steve- first of all my apologies for not having read that post. I've given an opinion of the item photoed, which was really a description as I saw it. I've a feeling I haven't got very near it though, and would love to know what it is.
No apologies necessary, Mike. It was at Kentwell Hall. We have no idea what it is either. Maybe Rog has got it right!
Post a Comment