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Flower crab spider (male)

Misumena sp.

Photo by KarenL
Published on Project Noah
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35.8987, -86.9624

Field Notes

Habitat:

This guy was hanging out on a cosmos flower waiting to ambush it's prey (see photos 2 for macro shot). I brought him indoors so I could give my new Raynox macro converter it's first outing!

Reference Links:

Flower crab spider

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
ChunXingWong
Ok, I will. Thanks for the information. Now I know what to add into this mission.
KarenL
Chun, I started the mission with the intention of collecting some of the fascinating mutually beneficial interactions between different species but you are right, commensalism (where only one species benefits & the other is unaffected by the partnership) is a type of symbiosis so feel welcome to add your spottings if you would like!
ChunXingWong
So in this crab spider case, it's called Commensalism, where one benefits only. Isn't Commensalism a part of Simbiosis? Just asking.
KarenL
Good question Chun! The spider clearly benefits from this arrangement but I am not sure the flower does in this case, & the "relationship" must benefit both parties to be considered symbiotic - as in the case of a flower & a bee for instance where the bee gets nectar in exchange for it's pollination services!
ChunXingWong
Crab spiders are known for their camouflaging skills. If a crab spider camouflages against a flower, do they share a symbiotic relationship? It is just that I want to be careful when I put some of my spottings into your Symbiotic Relationships mission.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
International Spider Survey
Mission
Spiders of Tennessee
Mission
Wildlife of Goose Creek
Mission
Backyard Habitats of the World
Mission
Morphed Organism ID

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Photographed
PublishedOctober 15, 2011

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