I have been observing the Crab Spider which I find fascinating. I don't like spiders but this one has intrigued me for a few years now. It can change colors to match it's surrounding...usually a flower as they do not build webs like a typical spider.

"Thomisidae do not build webs to trap prey, though all of them produce silk for drop lines and sundry reproductive purposes; some are wandering hunters and the most widely known are ambush predators. Some species sit on or beside flowers or fruit, where they grab visiting insects. Individuals of some species, such as Misumena vatia, are able to change color over a period of some days, to match the flower on which they are sitting."








This one is underneath daylily 'WILD ONE" , I think he did a pretty good job of trying to blend on this one. :)

Great topic Celeste I like your crab spider, have never seen one here. I do however have a ton of this green one this year for some reason.

Cool Ronnie! They are really green aren't they?

Have never seen a crab spider. Are they just in Maine?

Yes Celeste some of them are almost florescent!

They are in other States besides Maine. I think they go unnoticed because they don't build webs which is what most people look for .

all neat.. ready for Halloween!!!

Here's one for ya Allison

oh yeah babe!

will move my question here.. think the lily beetles will eat 4 o'clocks and croak.. like the Japanese beetles?

doubtful but we can hope so!

I saw some holes in the leaves already.. nobody home though

I have been told that the beetles can eat many plants, but only lay their eggs on lilies & fritillaries. I don't plant the latter either.

"It has also been reported that the leaves of the four o'clock also irresistibly draw Japanese beetles to them in a fatal attraction that poisons the little garden pests"

I had read that awhile ago and it suggested you plant around rose bushes

Didn't want to get too close to this guy!


Then this one is so cute!


This is one spider I don't care for


Lunch!

I love daddy long legs

oohhh hate em... too many nightmares about those cabins in Lake George.. and them crawling all over me

They are inside making cobwebs all over. Prefer such things outside!

I find spiders fascinating from a distance...but they are what my nightmares are made of.

I only like them from behind the camera My younger son Joey despises them!