Unknown spider with dead Yellow Palm Dart

[heyjudi]

I prefer to see my butterflies alive but this was an interesting natural event. This spider (anybody know what it is?) had apparently captured this Yellow Palm Dart and seemed to be preparing to eat it. What caught my attention was that the YPD was clearly dead but kept on moving :hmmm: !

This was on a walk on the Orchard Butterfly Trail led by Anuj on 28 August.

[Commander]

Hi,

This happens quite often in nature. I believe the spider is what we refer to generically as a "Crab Spider". They are often observed to catch butterflies at flowers as they feed (like the situation that you encountered). As the spider is well camouflaged, the prey usually realises it too late.

You can read my two earlier blog articles about predators.


Butterfly Predators (http://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2009/02/butterfly-predators-death-in-wind.html)
The Spider and the (Butter)fly (http://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2010/06/spider-and-butterfly.html)

[Angiud]

Same here:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/6008116862_1874744ab4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6008116862/)
Deadly Trap (http://www.flickr.com/photos/angiud/6008116862/) by angiud (http://www.flickr.com/people/angiud/), on Flickr