Optimistic Hunter?
I'm not sure what this nursery web spider (Pisura mirabilis) was up to on the garden sage bush. It looks like it is eyeing up the Bombus lapidarius queen as a snack. Normally it goes for much smaller prey which it subdues physically rather than poisons so the bee represented quite a challenge!. I shall never know as the bee flew off before the spider could make its intentions clear.
This is the third species of queen bumblebee seen in the garden this year - the other two being B. terrestris and B. hypnorum. There have also been honeybees and a single male mining bee.
The spider is interesting because although I've seen them in the local countryside it's the first time I have seen the species in the garden.
Optimistic Hunter?
I'm not sure what this nursery web spider (Pisura mirabilis) was up to on the garden sage bush. It looks like it is eyeing up the Bombus lapidarius queen as a snack. Normally it goes for much smaller prey which it subdues physically rather than poisons so the bee represented quite a challenge!. I shall never know as the bee flew off before the spider could make its intentions clear.
This is the third species of queen bumblebee seen in the garden this year - the other two being B. terrestris and B. hypnorum. There have also been honeybees and a single male mining bee.
The spider is interesting because although I've seen them in the local countryside it's the first time I have seen the species in the garden.