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Crab Spider

Thomisus sp.

Photo by Wild Things
Published on Project Noah
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19.8, 72.75

Field Notes

Description:

Kind of white spider with a big hat kind of thing which has raided my pink rose bush. Since the time they have raided my rose bush the flowers shed all petals on plucking. In the third pic light pink petals are seen, that is the infected plant.

Habitat:

Cultivated gardens.

Notes:

Seen this one on a bowl of flowers in my house. After clicking the snaps I put it out in the garden.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (17)
Wild Things
Thanks Atul sir, it is good to know such details.
Atul
lovely spotting ! satyen The front legs of the crab spider point in a forward direction which make then look more distinctly like a crab .
Wild Things
Thanks for sharing the information Goody. I was not aware of all this. It is good to know all these things. Still learning.
Aaron_G
Many species of mites will use other animals like a bus to move from place to place. Your spider seeks opportunity in the flowers because that's where the pollinator prey will be. They know to move when the flowers are spent because hunting opportunity is elsewhere.
Wild Things
You were right apple, on checking the plant today, I did find brown mites on it. Particularly in the middle of each flower. Now, I guess if I try to get rid of the mites the spiders will be eliminated too? I guess I will just have to see the flowers on the plant itself and enjoy their beauty.
Wild Things
Thanks for the info Apple, will see what I can get from the plant.
Apple
It's more likely that something else has done the "raiding" of your roses and the spider is there to feast on whatever that is raiding your bush...maybe spider mites?
Apple
No problem, glad I could help.
Wild Things
Apple I think you could be right. This seems like a female crab spider. Thanks.
Apple
Also see: http://moreindia.in/blog/2011/11/western-ghat-a-biodiversity-hotspot/white-crab-spider/
Apple
Looks to me like a type of crab spider...possibly a Thomisus. Try these sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_spider http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomisus

Spotted for Missions

Mission
International Spider Survey
Mission
Spiders of India

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJanuary 8, 2012

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