Putting a name to the wildlife we encounter creates a bond between ourselves and nature. Learning a little about the creatures we see further deepens that connection.
This is a flower crab spider. I found it in my garden this morning, quietly minding its own business inside a tulip. You might think it a slightly odd place for a spider to hang out, but once you learn about its amazing superpower it will all make sense.
Unlike garden spiders, flower crab spiders don’t spin webs. Instead, they choose a flower and, like a chameleon, change colour to blend in. How cool is that! Here they lay in wait for the bees, butterflies and other insects that visit the flower and then ambush them. They inject their prey with venom to immobilise them before slowly devouring them.
Flower crab spiders are common and can be found in gardens, meadows and woodland. Have a look for yourself, I'm sure you’ll find some.