By James Slezak | 2026-05-22
Murder on a lavander flower
On 05/23/2026 02:28 pm by Teresa Molinaro | Website | Sicily, Southern Italy
Murder on a Lavender Flower
Walking on a warm May afternoon, my curious eye was drawn to a beautiful lavender bush, located in front of a house.
Looking closely, as I admired the splendid and fragrant flowers up close, I noticed a beautiful butterfly perched on one of them, with a strange, square-shaped object with purple streaks on it. So, camera in hand, I snapped a couple of photos, and reviewing them on the screen, I realized I had witnessed a crime! A creepy-looking crab spider had captured the butterfly and showed no signs of letting go!
This species of spider, belonging to the Thomisadae family, does not create webs but feeds on pollinating insects, taking on the color of the flower it lands on, creating perfect camouflage to lure its victims into a trap, which it captures with its sturdy pincers.
Nikon D7500 Nikkor lens 70-300mm f/11 1/320s ISO 250
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