www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

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.

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.

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

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

I watched this Silver Studded Blue rather foolishly displaying at the entrance to the funnel of tube web spider's web (?)

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?

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.

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?

A gatekeeper flew into the web of a garden spider here today. I didn't meddle, just observed.

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.

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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Can't bear to watch that (even though Hedge Browns are far from my favourite species).

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.