Ruby Tiger - Phragmatobia fuliginosa 2a & spider
Ruby Tiger and spider. I saw this dead moth on the path and picked it up. But it wasn't dead. You can see in the photo what I couldn't see - the leg of the spider that was underneath it, attacking. When I picked it up the spider came too, but soon abandoned its intended meal to head off over the top of my fingers and drop to safety. I'm not sure if the moth survived. It seemed quite happy walking about but couldn't fly. I placed it carefully on a dandelion head and hoped it recovered. Otherwise I deprived the spider for nothing.
Ruby Tiger moth - Phragmatobia fuliginosa, chalk downland, Magdalen Hill Down butterfly reserve, Winchester, Hampshire, UK, 30th April 2014.
OS Grid Ref: SU 504 291
Ruby Tiger - Phragmatobia fuliginosa 2a & spider
Ruby Tiger and spider. I saw this dead moth on the path and picked it up. But it wasn't dead. You can see in the photo what I couldn't see - the leg of the spider that was underneath it, attacking. When I picked it up the spider came too, but soon abandoned its intended meal to head off over the top of my fingers and drop to safety. I'm not sure if the moth survived. It seemed quite happy walking about but couldn't fly. I placed it carefully on a dandelion head and hoped it recovered. Otherwise I deprived the spider for nothing.
Ruby Tiger moth - Phragmatobia fuliginosa, chalk downland, Magdalen Hill Down butterfly reserve, Winchester, Hampshire, UK, 30th April 2014.
OS Grid Ref: SU 504 291