Crab spider on rain-lily
Click for larger size and greater clarity, especially in the spider’s small hairs.
When I went walking on April 11th I found plenty of spiders, including this pale green one on the tips of two tepals of a rain-lily, Cooperia pedunculata. Thanks to Joe Lapp for telling me that this crab spider is in the genus Mecaphesa.
© 2013 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
I swear – when I enlarged the photo, it looks for all the world as though that spider is bemused. I wonder if he realizes how nicely his color is complemented by the colors of the flower? (And what a tiny thing he must be!)
shoreacres
April 28, 2013 at 7:33 AM
I’d never thought of a spider as being bemused, but I did a Google search just now and found that you have company in your description. Like you, I was bemused by the way the subdued colors of the spider and the flower worked together. As for size, yes, this was small spider. I’d say that even with its legs fully extended the way you see them here, it was probably at most half an inch across.
Steve Schwartzman
April 28, 2013 at 7:48 AM
Beautiful capture!
Tina Schell
April 28, 2013 at 7:50 AM
I was happy that the details came out as sharp as they did, given how small the spider was.
Steve Schwartzman
April 28, 2013 at 7:56 AM
I’ve never seen a spider this color – great capture
norasphotos4u
April 28, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Thanks. I imagine that color lets the spider blend in with lots of things.
Steve Schwartzman
April 28, 2013 at 5:35 PM
Legs stretched in frozen spider semaphore. The message, “Come closer so I may see you better.”
😉
This is a great capture!
Lynda
April 28, 2013 at 5:25 PM
I like your description of a “frozen spider semaphore.” Thanks for interpreting the message.
Steve Schwartzman
April 28, 2013 at 5:37 PM
Wow ! Very good !!
lemarcal
April 29, 2013 at 4:36 PM
Sur cette fleur l’araignée a régné.
Steve Schwartzman
April 29, 2013 at 6:24 PM
Wow! Spectacular macro!
soonie2
April 29, 2013 at 6:07 PM
Thanks. I got very close but the spider stood its ground for a long time.
Steve Schwartzman
April 29, 2013 at 6:26 PM
Another close-up photo of an intriguing tiny insect and aren’t they all interesting looking and so photogenic. They sit very still and seem to beg us to take their photo. I love bugs!
Mary Mageau
April 29, 2013 at 6:49 PM
Yes, that staying relatively still made my work as a photographer much easier than it often is. I’m glad you like little critters like this one.
Steve Schwartzman
April 29, 2013 at 7:35 PM
Another fabulous microcosmic beast. Great shot.
kathryningrid
April 30, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Thanks for your appreciation and for the word microcosmic.
Steve Schwartzman
April 30, 2013 at 4:21 PM
They usually take on the color of the flower they are hiding (i.e., stalking) in. It takes a while to change. This one must be in transition. Sometimes, in their cameleonic ways, they take on the color of the mating bugs they’re after.
Thomas Peace (author)
April 30, 2013 at 9:06 PM
Thanks for all that information about spider color. The spiders of this type that I’ve seen are usually more of a cream color.
Steve Schwartzman
April 30, 2013 at 10:31 PM