JUMPING SPIDER, (Family Salticidae), WITH GARITA SKIPPERLING, (Oarisma garita), ON PRAIRIE LILY, (Lilium philadelphicum)
Killdeer Mountains Wildlife Management Area, North Dakota
Killdeer Mountains Wildlife Management Area, North Dakota
Slide # SP-136-18.1
Professor Ron Royer and I were out on a butterfly excursion and noticed this Garita Skipperling cocked in a funny position on the tip of a prairie lily. I knew immediately that something was munching on it, and since I’ve ruined previous opportunities like this, I asked Ron to hold back while I crouched down and slowly crawled to the flower. I couldn’t see what was munching on the butterfly until I got closer and many predators such as jumping spiders, crab spiders, assassin bugs, mantises and others have excellent eyesight and may drop their meal and take off. So, I’ve learned to get low and go slow to get photos of the meal.
Professor Ron Royer and I were out on a butterfly excursion and noticed this Garita Skipperling cocked in a funny position on the tip of a prairie lily. I knew immediately that something was munching on it, and since I’ve ruined previous opportunities like this, I asked Ron to hold back while I crouched down and slowly crawled to the flower. I couldn’t see what was munching on the butterfly until I got closer and many predators such as jumping spiders, crab spiders, assassin bugs, mantises and others have excellent eyesight and may drop their meal and take off. So, I’ve learned to get low and go slow to get photos of the meal.