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A close shave!
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:33 pm
by A_T
At Fenns and Whixall Moss today I came across this Brimstone caught in a spider's web - as you can see the spider was well in and I thought the Brimstone was already a goner!
However the butterfly managed to break free leaving spidey without what would have been quite a substantial meal. However she'd cleverly made her web amongst a patch of knapweed so she'll undoubtedly not go short of insects.
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:58 pm
by David M
A happy ending!
I love Brimstones and would hate to see one being killed in this way - in fact, I habitually rescue all butterflies I see trapped in webs.
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 9:58 pm
by A_T
I actually thought the Brimstone had already been paralysed - it wasn't moving and the spider seemed to be biting it. Then suddenly it came to life and escaped the web - settling on a nearby flower to resume feeding. Looked fine
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:17 am
by Padfield
I found this small mountain ringlet in a spider's web, and it too was utterly motionless and presumed dead, though its posture was not deathlike.
On closer inspection it turned out it was a disused spider's web - there was no spider anywhere near - and when I touched the butterfly it began flapping. So I released it (unlike David, I wouldn't have released it if it had been in an active spider's web) and it was perfectly fine.
Clearly at least some butterflies stop flapping completely after a certain time when they are ensnared.
Guy
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:58 am
by dilettante
I watched this Silver Studded Blue rather foolishly displaying at the entrance to the funnel of tube web spider's web (?)
![Image](http://www.pbase.com/dilettante/image/135904834/original.jpg)
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 6:27 pm
by David M
padfield wrote: I released it (unlike David, I wouldn't have released it if it had been in an active spider's web) and it was perfectly fine.
Ah, what if it had been a Poplar Admiral?
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:11 pm
by Paul Wetton
I reckon a Poplar Admiral would batter the spider unless it was a real biggy and then I'd be tempted to put my money on the Admiral.
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:06 pm
by David M
Paul Wetton wrote:I reckon a Poplar Admiral would batter the spider unless it was a real biggy and then I'd be tempted to put my money on the Admiral.
LOL! How about you, Paul, are you a rescuer or an acceptor of fate?
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:47 pm
by Susie
A gatekeeper flew into the web of a garden spider here today. I didn't meddle, just observed.
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:19 pm
by Paul Wetton
I tend to observe if the spider has already made a grab as the poison has already taken effect if the bite has been made.
If a butterfly is caught but no spider appears I'll remove the insect from the web.
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:56 pm
by Susie
To each his own. I didn't deny spidy his dinner. If the web had snapped and the butterfly got away then so be it. But it didn't
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Re: A close shave!
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 6:00 pm
by David M
Can't bear to watch that (even though Hedge Browns are far from my favourite species).
Re: A close shave!
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:20 pm
by Susie
Let's just say that the butterfly doesn't win. It's wrapped up just the other side of the window from where I am sitting with a very fat contented spidy rubbing its tummy and burping.