Leaf curling spider and white cedar moth grub

We have a white cedar tree and every year the white cedar moth (leptocneria reducta) caterpillars invade it, crawl up the trunk and eat the leaves. This year the caterpillars are present in greater numbers than we've ever seen and the tree looks like it's been napalmed. It will survive, as it's deciduous and we're moving towards winter.

Two of the caterpillars fell into the leaf curling spider's web today. One of them kept crawling around, even all over the spider's leaf. I thought the spider would eat it but instead it retreated. The caterpillars in fact have very few predators, as they are poisonous. The spider seemed cognisant of this.

The most I usually see of leaf curling spiders is their legs. The extra shows the unusual view of most of it, including its face, before being bothered by the caterpillar.

Thanks for hosting Greg.

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