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Here the striking difference in size between the genders of Misumena vatia can be seen clearly. It is in fact hard to believe that the two spiders in the picture belong to the same species. The female has this huge abdomen where she carries her eggs. The male has climbed the flower of the female and approaches carefully. If she is bad tempered, he could become her prey rather than her lover. But the female has had dinner already, as the wings of some butterflies in the background suggest. Continuously prepared for a sudden abseiling, the male trips across the petal, carefully approaching. The female recognizes him by his tripping. She thinks he is infatuating and lets him get closer. |
