Monday, February 27, 2006

Crab spider - Death by flower


Late August 2005 -- I started noticing dead butterflies and bees on thistle blooms. My first thought was that the thistle was poisonous. But then I saw it: A white crab-like spider hiding in the center of the thistle. It looks just like the center of the flower until you see it move.


It grabs the victim with pincher-like claws. Then injects a poison and sucks the victim dry.


Vaguely reminiscent of public policy in general. Except that the crab spider has to work for a living.