Spider ID please

[MikeOxon]

During a walk around Nuneham Courtenay arboretum this afternoon, my wife spotted this spider under an Acer leaf:

Nuneham Arboretum, Oxon - 16th October 2012

I suspect it is an example of those Crab Spiders which lurk in flowers to catch unsuspecting butterflies. I'd be grateful if someone could provide an ID for me and confirm or not whether it is a butterfly predator.

I saw no butterflies on the wing today and just one large dragonfly, which seemed in perpetual motion - either a Southern or Migrant Hawker.

Mike

[ChrisC]

diaea dorsata. more usually arboreal than on flowers so not really a butterfly predator, no doubt it would take one or try if one was offered though,

Chris

[MikeOxon]

Many thanks, Chris. I looked up more information and gathered that it is quite late in the year for this species. The colouring was very vivid, especially when seen on a red Acer leaf.

Mike

[Gibster]

Had one last week, sitting in a big yew tree which (appropriately enough!) I've dubbed "Diaea Yew" - partly coz it sounds so funny if you say out loud, but mostly because I find the spider pretty much every time I shake a branch into my net. But I think I've had them later than this before? I shall check...

Cheers,

Gibster.

[MikeOxon]

I think I've had them later than this before?

I based my comment on the lateness in the year on information from http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal ... %20dorsata I have since been advised that mine could be juvenile or pre-adult, which will mature next season.

Mike