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Photo#2087
Lynx Spider, with prey, and scavengers - Peucetia viridans - male

Lynx Spider, with prey, and scavengers - Peucetia viridans - Male
Duluth, Georgia, USA
July 19, 2003
Note the small flies (scavengers?) on the spider's meal. There are actually two more perilously close to the spider's jaws.

Moved
Moved from Eastern Variations.

Revelation
Eisner (1) cleared up the mystery of these flies for me. It turns out they are attracted by the defensive chemicals released by the stink bug when under duress. They zero in on the kill, apparently often in spider webs, and share in the feast. The spider apparently ignores them for the most part, as seen here.

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