During a break from harvesting blackberries today, I plunked myself down in a row of sunflowers for a quick change of scenery. What luck to witness a flower spider (Misumena vatia) in action and have enough time to reach for the camera. I suspect one of my own honey bees was the victim. These crazy little spiders are also known as crab spiders and lurk in the petals of pollen or nectar rich blooms, hunting wasps, bees, and flies. They immobilize the victim with a swift bite and quickly suck the insect dry. Freaky micro world in the insecticide/pesticide free sunflowers!
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Thanks Emily. Your own bee photos inspired me to keep the camera handy while I work because you never know who you’ll see in the blooms…
Great photo – I always feel like I should rescue the bee when I see these spiders in action, but then the spiders have to eat too!