Crab Spider

Xysticus and Coriarachne are dark brown or reddish-brown crab spiders often encountered on weeds or trees. While similar to the 'flower spiders', they tend to have shorter, sturdier legs. Many, but not all, species have abdomens more patterned than most Thomisus species, rather like some of the Synema species. Some however, that are more terrestrial, resemble earth in color and texture. Most species of the genus Xysticus are small to medium sized spiders. They show a sexual dimorphism in size. Females of typical species reach a maximum of 10 mm of body length, while their males are about 3 - 5 mm long, about half the size of the females. The species are often very similar to each other, and in most cases can be distinguished only by a microscopic examination of the reproductive organs.