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Flower (crab) spider

Photo by urbicae
Published on Project Noah
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38.92, -77.0291

Field Notes

Description:

This spider belongs to the Thomisidae or
Crab spider family. This is perhaps a Goldenrod crab spider (Misumena vatia) in white, but I am not sure, as it resembles also some Misumenoides and Misomenops species.

Anyhow, all comments are welcomed. :)

Habitat:

urban (backyard)

Notes:

Crab spiders can be identified by their stronger and often longer front two pairs of legs, which they can hold up, similar to the way a crabs hold their claws. Instead of a making a web, they use these legs to catch a pray (which usually comes by as they sit on a flower). Since some flower spiders can change color -- which may take a few days -- to camouflaged themselves on different flowers, it makes harder to identify them.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)

Photographed
PublishedSeptember 12, 2010

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