meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona) caught by jagged ambush bug (Phymata) at Ludwig Prairie Preserve IA 653A5331
At first glance this meadow fritillary seems to be drinking nectar from the wild bergamot flower just like the silver-spotted skipper was. But look closer and you will see a small white leg wrapping itself around the fritillary's head! The fritillary has just been captured by a camouflaged jagged ambush bug that was hiding out on the wild bergamot blossom and was just waiting for a careless butterfly to stop by. The jagged ambush bug looks somewhat like a robust praying mantis and immediately injects an immobilizing poison into the butterfly or other potential prey that could include just about any bug. A few days ago I posted a photo of a garden spider with its meadow fritillary catch here at Ludwig Prairie. If I come back to earth in some future life as a butterfly, I sure hope I'm not a meadow fritillary for that would likely be a short stay.
meadow fritillary (Boloria bellona) caught by jagged ambush bug (Phymata) at Ludwig Prairie Preserve IA 653A5331
At first glance this meadow fritillary seems to be drinking nectar from the wild bergamot flower just like the silver-spotted skipper was. But look closer and you will see a small white leg wrapping itself around the fritillary's head! The fritillary has just been captured by a camouflaged jagged ambush bug that was hiding out on the wild bergamot blossom and was just waiting for a careless butterfly to stop by. The jagged ambush bug looks somewhat like a robust praying mantis and immediately injects an immobilizing poison into the butterfly or other potential prey that could include just about any bug. A few days ago I posted a photo of a garden spider with its meadow fritillary catch here at Ludwig Prairie. If I come back to earth in some future life as a butterfly, I sure hope I'm not a meadow fritillary for that would likely be a short stay.