As I was looking at a small patch of purple aster flowers yesterday at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, I noticed that the center of one of them was a different color than all of the rest. I moved closer and was thrilled to see this very cool-looking White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) nestled in among the petals of the flower. This kind of spider does not build a web, but patiently perches, waiting to pursue passing prey.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wow, nicely done.
Oh, I love that first shot!
It’s almost like the spider wants to reach out and embrace you. 🙂
From the look of those petals, the spider’s been there a while, rearranging things to create a comfortable perch!
I think you are right. If you are going to be waiting for a while, you might as well be comfortable. 🙂
WOW!!!! Very Cool! What an interesting spider.
Superb photos Mike!
Fantastic photograph! How courteous of your model to pose perfectly against that purple background.
Great shots. Love the chubby spider too and the way its pale colours contrast with the bold purple of the petals. That first photo is a pretty accurate metaphor for “Laura doing yoga”.
🙂
Great shots, Mike. Watch out pollinators!
Strange that one!
Wow! It really looks like a crab! Amazing photo! 😮🦀
These are really nice Mike! The first image almost looks like a futuristic space craft! The smooth background makes the image really stand out!
Wow, that would be a thrill to happen upon. What a sneaky technique he has – yikes.
This is definitely a cool technique, though I think my favorite of all spiders is the jumping spider. They don’t wait for a prey to get close–they leap out and catch them (plus they have multiple eyes that are wonderful to see). 🙂
A nice insect perch–I don’t think I’d heard of this one before. Cool captures!
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