Crab spiders animate wildflowers

Among the tiny creatures that really run the world's ecosystems, crab spiders play an interesting role.

The dwell within wildflowers such as milkweed and goldenrod, and prey on insects that come to visit. Often they assume the coloration of the flower - magenta, yellow, or whatever.

In turn, they are preyed upon by pompilid wasps. (see photo.)

Here are a couple of sites:

A great invert blog from Michigan's Upper Peninsula has a nice page on crab spiders.

Windsor Ontario's Ojibway Nature Centre includes crab spiders on its spider page.

So far, I haven't spotted any in my wildflower photos. But I'll keep looking.