The price of pollen part 11

Dalantech

Even the hoverflies have to pay...

A mix of magnifications using tubes and a teleconverter. MR-14EX ring flash set to -1/3 FEC and a 4:1 ratio. Minimal post processing and, as always, no cropping.

tlee

I really like the next to last one. Great series!

ShepsMom

Your hoverflies get skinnier and skinnier Looks like big meal in order!

Dalantech

tlee wrote:

I really like the next to last one. Great series!

Thanks! :cool

Dalantech

ShepsMom wrote:

Your hoverflies get skinnier and skinnier Looks like big meal in order!

That one was small -no more than about 2mm wide (the thickness of two dimes). It was the first time I've seen a crab spider with a hoverfly -normally they go after larger prey.

Awais Yaqub

This is super

Skippy

Dalantech wrote:

Even the hoverflies have to pay...

A mix of magnifications using tubes and a teleconverter. MR-14EX ring flash set to -1/3 FEC and a 4:1 ratio. Minimal post processing and, as always, no cropping.

Now that's interesting John, the Crab Spider attacked from behind, then went for the neck, maybe it's easier to manipulate the victim that way, and suck the bodily juices from the upper part of the body ?

Excellent series Well Done ! .... Skippy
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Dalantech

Awais Yaqub wrote:

This is super

Thanks Awais!

Dalantech

Skippy wrote:

Now that's interesting John, the Crab Spider attacked from behind, then went for the neck, maybe it's easier to manipulate the victim that way, and suck the bodily juices from the upper part of the body ?

Excellent series Well Done ! .... Skippy
.

Thanks Skippy!!

I honestly didn't see the strike, but I think the spider doesn't care where the initial bite is as long as the victim is paralyzed and can't retaliate (I think a bee could do some damage if the spider missed).

While shooting crab spiders I've observed them spinning the victim around and biting it in multiple locations (makes my skin crawl thinking about it!). The only thing I can figure is that the spider is injecting digestive enzymes in multiple locations to speed up the breakdown of the soft tissue in the victim. If I'm shooting for 20 minutes it's not uncommon to get three or four different compositions without having to move -the spider changes its pose all on its own.