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Category Archives: Crab Spiders   rss

Crab Spider: Possibly Bark Crab Spider

primitive looking spider
Sat, May 2, 2009 at 10:58 PM
I live in the middle of a woodland forest in Mendocino County, northern California. All types of bugs find their way in my house. I promptly put them in a jar and take them back into the woods, mostly beautiful wolf spiders. But this certain spider I’ve never seen before (please see photo). It looks primitive to me, almost crab-like. Can you identify it? That would be amazing! I’d love to know what it is.
nat
Mendocino County, CA, woodlands

bark crab spider nat 300x248 Crab Spider: Possibly Bark Crab Spider

Crab Spider

Hi Nat,
This is most certainly a Crab Spider in the family Thomisidae, and we believe it is a Bark Crab Spider in the genus Bassaniana based on a photo posted to BugGuide.  BugGuide does not list this genus in California, but the range is quite great, from coast to coast.  Like Wolf Spiders, Crab Spiders do not build snare webs.  Rather they are hunting spiders.

Posted 03 May 2009 § ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Giant Crab Spider riddled with Fungus, we believe

Found possible rare “mold” looking spider in Papua New Guinea
Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 7:14 PM
I recently returned from six weeks of work in the Papua New Guinea jungle, mostly in the Southern Highlands. While we came across many strange bugs and spiders, none were more strange than this one. I have so far been been unable to find any photos resembling anything like this species and am wondering if we may have stumbled upon something very rare or unnamed (I’m sure you get this question often). The spider was about 5 cm across and covered with fine hair, which makes it look out of focus in the photo. Evolution clearly intended this spider to look like a patch of mold. As you’ll see, the abdomen is distinctly concave and looks like a thin plate of mold. It was resting on a live tree covered in red paper-like bark. Even the locals seemed interested, leading me to believe this wasn’t an everyday sighting. As a g eologist, I know it’s imperative to include a scale, but unfortunately I forgot as I was preoccupied with work. I’m very curious to hear what you’ve got to say.
Thanks,
Brian
Near the Tari Basin, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea

spider fungus new guinea 287x300 Giant Crab Spider riddled with Fungus, we believe

Spider infested with Fungus

Hi Brian,
We believe, based on its shape, that your spider is one of the Giant Crab Spiders in the family Sparassidae, but we don’t believe it is a living specimen. It is our opinion that this spider is riddled with fungus, leading to its unusual appearance. Many spiders and insects are killed by fungus infections.

Update:  Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Daniel,
Thanks for the quick response.  The possibility of this being a dead animal had not crossed my, nor the others I was with.  After looking at the image again, I noticed the spider is only attached to the tree with four legs, resting in a vertical position on a live tree.  Could he be dead and still be attached with no apparent web etc?  I’ve attached the full-sized image and filtered out some of the noise.  Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Brian Gray
Staff Geologist
URS Corporation

Hi Brian,
We are sticking to our original ID.  The fungus may have grown onto the leaf, attaching the spider.

Posted 26 April 2009 § attack of the fungus ‡ Comments (0) °

Crab Spider Eats Skipper

misumenoides formosipes eats butterfly
Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Hi,
I found this crab spider at my aunt’s house in central Oklahoma last summer. I’m pretty sure it’s misumenoides formosipes, but I’m not positive. I hope you guys enjoy the pictures. Thanks for the great site!
Josh Kouri
Oklahoma City, Ok

crab spider foodchain josh 227x300 Crab Spider Eats Skipper

Crab Spider eats Skipper

Hi Josh,
We believe you have correctly identified your spider as Misumenoides formosipes, the White Banded Crab Spider.  This is a highly variable species and simply perusing some of the images submitted to BugGuide will reveal the many color variations.  It is not true that Crab Spiders can change their coloration with their surroundings.  What is more likely is that the offspring that match the color of the surroundings are more likely to survive to adulthood.  At any rate, your photo nicely illustrates how closely a Crab Spider is capable of matching its surroundings, and how effective this is in capturing prey.  It appears the butterfly in your photo is a Skipper.

 

crab spider josh 300x175 Crab Spider Eats Skipper

Crab Spider

Posted 06 February 2009 § Skippers ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Crab Spider eats unknown Moth in South Africa

Poor guy
Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 8:22 AM
Any idea for either the moth or spider?
Photographed in the Langeberg Range in South Africa in montane fynbos ecosystem. Photo is attached
Brett
Langeberg Range in South Africa

crab spider moth south africa brett 210x300 Crab Spider eats unknown Moth in South Africa

Crab Spider catches Moth

Hi again Brett,
We haven’t a clue about the moth, but the spider is a Crab Spider in the family Thomisidae. Crab Spiders don’t build webs, and many species sit camouflaged in flowers awaiting pollinating insects.

Update: Crab Spider eats unknown Moth in South Africa
Tue, Jan 6, 2009
Hi Daniel:
I can’t resist a twofer. The photo provides only a partial underside view of the moth, which looks like a Geometrid to me. Unfortunately, from the perspective of providing an identification, West Cape Province has over a 100 species of Geometridae and South Africa as a whole apparently has over 1000 species, most of them dressed in cryptic grays and sepias. The spider is indeed in the Thomisidae family, likely a flower crab spider in the genus Thomisus , of which there are at least 15 to choose from. The closest match I could find was T. citrinellus . Regards.
Karl

Posted 07 January 2009 § Moths ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Crab Spider

Tiny pale green spider on forest floor…
Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 9:27 AM
I was examining a scrape on the forest floor, looking for hair when I found this tiny little spider! It coudnt be bigger than a centimeter across the longest point (wish I had had a coin with me for size reference). It walked sideways like a crab. When disturbed it pulled its legs in and tried to look inconspicuous. After I got done taking pictures it crawled to the underside of a leaf and hid.
Dana
Athens, Georgia

crab spider dana 300x289 Crab Spider

Crab Spider

Hi Dana,
This is a Crab Spider in the family Thomisidae.  We are not certain of the genus or species, but we would hesitate a guess at the genus Misumenops as evidenced by images posted to BugGuide.  Crab Spiders do not build hunting webs.  They ambush their prey using camouflage techniques.

Posted 03 November 2008 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Crab Spider Stalks Bumble Bee

crab spider
Where was this site when I found some crazy huge fuzzy spider!? I see the spider in my photo has been identified a couple of times already but I just wanted to share this photo (I’m just proud of it). I am actually terrified of spiders but still find them quite interesting. I like honey bees and I am wondering about the fate of the honey bee in the photo. They got into quite the scuffle and eventually the honey bee flew off – I am just wondering if he’d be alright after a a fight with one of these guys.
Thanks!

crab spider bumblebee Crab Spider Stalks Bumble Bee

Hi Rebecca,
What’s That Bug? has been accepting correspondance from our curious readership online for over five years, and prior to that, for two years in print, though the modest photocopied American Homebody zine probably never crossed your path. Your Crab Spider is stalking a Bumble Bee, not a Honey Bee. Unless the spider sank its fangs into the bee, the Bumble Bee probably lived to pollinate numerous flowers after the near fatal encounter. Sadly, Crab Spiders do not know the difference between beneficial and harmful insects. Since Crab Spiders spend so much time on flowers, a large portion of their prey consists of beneficial pollinators.

Posted 16 June 2007 § Bumble Bees ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Crab Spider ambushes Fiery Skipper

Pale green spider with red stripes
Hello! While in San Antonio, Texas this month I noticed this spider on my parent’s backyard deck. Can you identify it?
Sheila Ryan

crab eats skipper Crab Spider ambushes Fiery Skipper

Hi Sheila,
This is a Crab Spider. They do not build webs. They are often found on flowers and are also called Flower Spiders. Crab Spiders are in the family Thomisidae. This specimen has captured a Fiery Skipper.

Posted 17 May 2007 § Skippers ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Crab Spider eats Skipper

Bugman, an addition for your Food chain page…
Hello, Bugman! Noticed this camoflauged Crab Spider munching on a Sleeping Orange. I thought of the greatest insect website (yours of course), and took a few pictures for your Food Chain page. Enjoy! Big fan of yours,
Rachel Elizabeth
Dawson, GA

crab foodchain Crab Spider eats Skipper

Hi Rachel Elizabeth,
You packed so many glowing compliments into your short note, and a wonderful image as well. How could we possibly not post your fabulous Crab Spider, which in this case earns its other common name, Flower Spider.

Posted 15 October 2006 § Skippers ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

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