Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Image:Spider and fly April 2008-6.jpg

Crab spider with preys

Original - A female Goldenrod Crad Spider (Misumena vatia) capturing a couple of mating flies. This species is an example of superb camouflage as they have the capacity of changing their colour depending on the flower they are hunting in. In the picture the venom is still being inoculated at the back of the fly's head trough the spider's hollow fangs.

Alternative - Another view of the action

Reason

A high quality action shot showing the exact moment when the venom is being inoculated into the fly

Articles this image appears in

Misumena vatia, Ambush predator

Creator

Joaquim Alves Gaspar

• Info - A mistery remains to be explained. When the shot was made the fly was still struggling. During the whole process, and even after the spider stopped inoculating the venom and hide under the flower, the male fly didn't move from its mating position. Was it too busy with the intercourse or, somehow, was also affected by the venom? I don't know. - Alvesgaspar (talk) 15:22, 20 April 2008 (UTC)
• Support as nominator Alvesgaspar (talk) 15:16, 20 April 2008 (UTC)
• Reluctant weak oppose It's really a nice photo, but I think the encyclopedic value is reduced because there are two flies, which I'm sure is quite a rare occurrence. Having two flies instead of one also makes it a bit confusing visually on first glance. Mangostar (talk) 00:28, 21 April 2008 (UTC) Striking my hesitation, decided I really don't like the second fly. Mangostar (talk) 21:38, 29 April 2008 (UTC)
• Support both Strong Support 2nd Excellent quality pictures. I don't really find them confusing. Particuraly the second one. I actually think that showing the flies mating adds to the enclycopedic value of the pictures and am unable to see them as confusing.--St.daniel ^Talk 01:37, 21 April 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose Adding an extra fly hasn't increased the enc (IMO) nor has it addressed the more pressing issue of sharpness which is still below macro FP standards IMO --Fir0002 09:08, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• Support. You should definitely add this to ambush predator, and maybe predation as well. Papa Lima Whiskey (talk) 16:39, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
  • Thanks, that has been done -- Alvesgaspar (talk) 19:37, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
• Support, highly encyclopedic. Prefer second version. Durova^Charge! 15:32, 24 April 2008 (UTC)
• Oppose The subject is indeed very interesting, but the technical quality, along with the composition could have been executed better. Lipton sale (talk) 14:34, 27 April 2008 (UTC)
• Strong support. Unique shot of a spider catching TWO flys at once...wow... Spinach Dip 02:12, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

No consensus MER-C 05:12, 3 May 2008 (UTC)