Ground Crab Spider
Scientific Name: Xysticus
Order & Family: Araneae: Thomisidae
Size: 3 mm to 10 mm (females are generally larger than males)
Natural Habitat
Leaves, soil surface, low-growing plants, and under rocks or logs
Diet & Feeding
Insects including flies, bees, butterflies, and small beetles; they are ambush predators
Behavior Patterns
Unlike web-building spiders, they lie in wait and ambush prey using their long front legs. They often move sideways like crabs.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as they provide natural pest control by eating various insects.
Identified on: 6/5/2026