Interesting bee predator

[Peter]

Anybody know what kind of spider this is? Looks like it wasn't a dead bee but one that the spider caught. Amazed it could do it without getting stung

IMG_2580.jpgIMG_2574.jpg

[Nature Coast beek]

Very cool pics! Haven't a clue as to the spider though.

[Peter]

Very difficult using a viewfinder camera when you have a veil on. I was right the main flight path into the hive and there were returning forager bees all over my back and head.

I suspect it may be a female golden-rod crab spider, see the link, there is an interesting bit toward the bottom of the page about the red/pink markings being bee guide mimicry.

http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/01/...-crab-spiders/

[westernbeekeeper]

Yes, it is a golden-rod crab spider. I have these quite frequently around my hives, and they don't cause much trouble; they eat only a few bees throughout the season. Each bee the spider consumes lasts it for a week or two, so it is not really a problem. Nice pic, though.

[JRG13]

Yep, it's a crap spider.

[Sherman]

Peter,

The spider appears to be a Goldenrod Crab Spider. I'm not an expert but have seen a bunch of similar ones and looked it up at one time. They hide out on flowers and eat insects that visit the flowers including bees and wasps. They can change color from yellow to white depending on the color of the flower they are on. Looks like yours picked a productive spot!

--Sherman

[westernbeekeeper]

Yep, it's a crap spider.

Rather clever!

[jslo722]

Can anyone tell me the name of the plant the spider is sitting on? And does it get little yellow flowers in the spring? We have it all over our landscape, but I never could identify it online.

[Peter]

The ground cover plant is Lamium. These particular ones are the yellow flower variety, Archangel. It flowers in sping and the bees love it. We also have a pink variety that flowers a few weeks later, oddly the bees don't touch that one.