Predators on Butterflies

[Stan Gorodenski]

This is not intended to start up the collector-anti collecting debate. 
For the past 3 weeks or so I have been going to one of the few spots not 
sprayed by pesticides for various reasons. I have never seen so many 
crab spiders in sunflowers and other yellow flowers of composits and 
they are really having a feast on the butterflies in the area, including 
bot flies and even bees. One could almost make a lep collection by 
grabbing the prey from the spiders. I did this yesterday and got a 
perfect Zerene cesonia(?). Those in the past those, such as Ron 
Gatrelle, who have pointed out how much more an impact predators, rather 
than collectors, have on butterflies sure hit the nail on the head.
Stan

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl