Keeping an eye while feasting on the prey

[Prajwal J Ullal]

ID: Slender crab spider with caterpillar catch

Spotted this beauty hanging on the back side of the leaf, feasting on the morning catch of a juicy caterpillar. Though they have the tendency to drop its catch to evade getting approached by any threat, this particular one kept holding on to the prey and continued suckling the juices off it. It was interesting to see the top eyes being visible at this angle almost as if it was keeping a cautious eye on the intruder. A unique form of the crab spiders, these are known to keep themselves as disguised well by stretching out its front and hind set of limbs and keeping as low as possible, making them a bit difficult to spot in the wilderness, probably also a way to hide itself in front of its prey as well as predators.

EXIF:
Canon 80D
Canon 100mm macro
F/11
Shutterspeed 1/250
ISO 400
Handheld, external flash fired

Location: Nagla block