I have never seen anything quite like this before. A butterfly snared by a crab spider.
Feel free to click to enlarge and click again to get even closer.
July 2019, local field, South Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
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Nature Journeys 
Goldenrod crab spiders are ferocious. I’ve not seen one with a butterfly but have seen several with bumblebees.Nice catch, Pete.
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Thank you Steve. I have seen them with the bumblebees, too, and they are quite ferocious as you say.
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Wow, great image…kind of.
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Thank you Ted! I probably won’t see one like it again.
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Very cool and well done. I guess size doesn’t’t deter crab spiders.
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Thank you David. These little critters don’t appear to have any fear, and they even tackle large bees!
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Extraordinary. Did you watch for a while to see if the butterfly was able to escape? The butterfly looks to be a large meal if it didn’t get free.
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The butterfly was either in a state of complete paralysis from the poison the spider had injected into it, or on its way out and to be food.
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Wow…you wouldn’t think that would happen!
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It surprised me, I can tell you!
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Very interesting! I did not know they were carnivores.
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Thank you Dwight. Yes, they can be quite the predator.
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Terrific moment captured, Pete!
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Thank you very much Indira! 🙂
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Crab spiders certainly seem to punch above their weight!
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Great shot!
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Thank you!
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That is quite a feat for that crab spider.I have never seen anything like this either.
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It sure is Peggy. They are fearsome creatures those crab spiders.
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Great shot Pete! Crab spiders—those little lurkers—never cease to amaze me!
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Thank you John. Nor me! 🙂
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Extraordinary shot Pete!
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Thank you Belinda 🙂
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Great picture! I just wanted to say the same when I read your sentences. I wouldn’t have thought that spiders like that would catch a butterfly! Incredible! But that is nature. Fascinating.
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Thank you 🙂 Fascinating indeed!
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Ooops….
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WOW! They are really good hunters! Excellent photo Pete!
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Thank you Anki 🙂
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Excellent capture …. as one might also say to Mrs. Crab Spider.
I have seen a crab spider with a butterfly( and photos) on one occasion only. But the catch was not as ”fresh” as your shot, Pete.
I guess they are opportunists and will take whatever they can.
On saying that, I have one photograph of a hoverfly stationary on the back of a yellow crab spider – I kid you not – and the spider did absolutely nothing.
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Cheers Ark. I have seen them tackle bumblebees but never thought they went for butterflies until now. They are certainly ferocious predators.
Ha, that must have been a sight to see … a hoverfly piggy-backing a crab spider!
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Weirdly horrifically astonishing! The spider was obviously confident about punching above its weight. Dining out all year on that one.
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These spiders are very crafty. They sit around all day pretending to be part of the flower, expending very little energy, and when something comes down to drink some sweet nectar they are grabbed and the next meal. Yep, this one sjould last it some time.
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No room for pudding.
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