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Argiope WC#573

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted February 25, 201380 views8 comments

Juvenile Argiope spider, probably A. aurantia - Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider - hidden in stabilimentum, a specialized web to provide camouflage. This one in Tomoka State Park, FL is the second like this that I have seen and photographed, the previous one was in the Ocala National Forest.
Canon Digital Rebel (300D), 300mm EF300 f/4 IS USM lens, 1/125 sec, f/11, aperture-priority, Exp. comp. -2/3, ISO 400

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on February 26, 2013 at 12:31 AM

Wow, great camouflage Paul. Tough to spot even when you know where to look in this shot. Cool critter.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 26, 2013 at 9:33 AM

What spider?

I had to look twice to find the insect. This really shows of the web center as camo very well.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on February 26, 2013 at 12:50 PM

Very interesting camouflage. Even though the white center is easily spotted, the spider on that center is practically invisible! I wasn't aware some spiders did this type of camouflage. Great entry for the theme, Paul.

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 26, 2013 at 9:58 PM

Great camo! Nice find.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 26, 2013 at 10:10 PM

You portrayed this spider and its behavior nicely. I helped a post doc study foraging behavior in these spiders a long time ago. They are very clever little animals.................................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by RL Potts on February 27, 2013 at 12:04 PM

Reverse camouflage! Instead of looking like your surroundings, make your surroundings look like you do. This is an interesting image. I like the patterns of web and the brown tone. Arachnids are great subjects for camo photography. I am surprised that someone hasn't come up with a crab spider in a flower yet.

Registered on November 24, 2003, 188 Posts, 985 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on February 28, 2013 at 2:30 AM

Instead of blending into a background, it's blending the background to itself. Smart spider! Very interesting and a good capture, Paul.

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Rebmann on February 28, 2013 at 10:47 PM

Thanks all for the generous comments. And Robert, since nobody else has yet, I have now also posted a crab spider in a flower.

Paul

Registered on July 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 122 Comments