As I turned the flower around I saw the reason. A crab spider must have been waiting for the unwary bee. Crab spiders do not spin webs but wait, as this one did, for their prey to come close. They have very powerful venom which paralyses the prey.
The orange mallow has flowered non-stop during our dry, mild winter and the bees have been busy gathering pollen every day. It was a good place to sit and wait.
Circle of life, though it's hard for me to see a bee get taken while collecting pollen for the hive. If only the "bad" insects were the ones to get eaten, right?
ReplyDeleteThey say that the venom is fast acting and it would have to be if you don't have a web in which to entangle them. I guess spiders have to eat although a bee doesn't seem much of a tasty meal.
DeleteI like finding crab spiders tucked into rose blooms (where I usually see them). I actually think it's considerate of them to hide most of the time and not build any webs for early morning gardeners to walk into. :)
ReplyDeleteI believe they don't spin webs although they can spin a line from which to hang.
DeleteWhat a great spy you are! I was pondering the mallow just this morning. I'm considering whacking it back good before it gets warm so it won't be so leggy this spring but then I feel bad because the bees are so happy feasting everyday at its blooms. What's a gardener to do?!
ReplyDeleteI think we have a little time yet before we need to cut back. Let's enjoy the booms, along with the bess, while we can.
DeleteThat is wild!!! What a great catch!!! I love the Globe Mallows.
ReplyDeleteI do too Kacky and I plan to put in more.
DeleteIt must have been a shock to see a dead bee in your flower. I really like your front garden, very pretty in blue.k.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen. may not be quite so blue this year unless I get out and transplant a few bluebonnets.
DeleteI would have screamed and run a mile if I had found a spider feasting on a bee in one of my blooms!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it happens all the time Jayne... the spider, not you running and screaming around the garden.
DeleteEwwwww. Poor bee. Happy spider.
ReplyDelete