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Photo#120758
Moth-eater in the Taj Mahal - Misumenops

Moth-eater in the Taj Mahal - Misumenops
Bowie, Prince George's County, Maryland, USA
June 22, 2007
I'd like the ID of the spider if anyone knows the species. Its body is a very pale green, the legs transluscent. It is feeding on an Acrolophid moth.

Moved
Moved from Spiders.

Taj Mahal?
How does this relate to the Taj Mahal? Was the photo taken there?

 
See the Moth Taj Mahal, Famous Bowie MD Landmark!

 
Ah, I see!
That's very cool. Thanks for showing, Bob.

it looks like
Misumenoides formosipes to me

 
Thanks, Sharon....
... I captured the spider/moth in a pill vial and released it on a piece of canvas on my photo table. After taking this photo I covered them with a large clear plastic container. I also placed a second moth in there and it came to rest next to the moth being ingested. A couple of hours later when I wanted to begin my nightly moth photo session I turned the container/canvas over to drop the bugs inside the container and screw on its lid. The second moth went "plunk" to the bottom of the container (without injury) but, to my astonishment, the spider let out a drop line and lowered itself and its meal, undisturbed to the bottom. When I slid the canvas off the container the drop line became affixed to the container's lip just below the lid. A couple of hours later I noticed the spider and meal back at the top. I don't know if it climbed up the side of the container or ate its way back up the drop line. The second moth remained alive at the bottom. Today, the fattened spider is still at the top of the container, having dropped the finished moth meal. When I jiggled the container the second moth fluttered around and came to rest at the top almost in contact with the spider. The spider reared back as if getting ready to strike but did not do so. Apparently sated for the time being, it appears that this species doesn't store food for future meals as do the ord-weaving spiders.

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