Crab Spider (Mecaphesa, Thomisidae) on Telegraph Weed
Here is a little Crab Spider (Thomisidae) on a new flower of native Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora) in the Asteraceae plant family growing in our canyon today. The spider is posed like the diamond ring effect of the recent eclipse! The composite plants are kind of weedy, mostly growing along roads, photo here - but they are native. This is the first flower I've seen, at least in our canyon. I believe the spider is genus Mecaphesa because of its hairiness. I believe this one is male with those enlarged palps. (San Marcos Pass, 2 September 2017)
Crab Spider (Mecaphesa, Thomisidae) on Telegraph Weed
Here is a little Crab Spider (Thomisidae) on a new flower of native Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora) in the Asteraceae plant family growing in our canyon today. The spider is posed like the diamond ring effect of the recent eclipse! The composite plants are kind of weedy, mostly growing along roads, photo here - but they are native. This is the first flower I've seen, at least in our canyon. I believe the spider is genus Mecaphesa because of its hairiness. I believe this one is male with those enlarged palps. (San Marcos Pass, 2 September 2017)