White Crab Spider
Misumena vatia (likely, or a closely related species within Thomisidae)
- Order & Family
- Order: Araneae, Family: Thomisidae
- Size
- Females typically range from 7-10 mm; males are much smaller, usually 2-4 mm.
Natural Habitat
Found on flowers, leaves, and other vegetation in gardens, meadows, fields, and woodlands. They prefer environments with abundant flowering plants to hunt prey.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly carnivorous, preying on various insects including bees, flies, butterflies, and other small arthropods that visit flowers.
Behavior Patterns
Crab spiders are ambush predators. They typically do not build webs for catching prey but instead wait on flowers or foliage, camouflaged, to pounce on unsuspecting insects like bees, flies, and butterflies. They are masters of camouflage, some species can even change their color over several days to match the flower they are hunting on. Females lay eggs in a silk sac and guard them.
Risks & Benefits
Generally beneficial as they help control populations of various insects, including some garden pests. They are not considered harmful to humans; their venom is not medically significant and bites are rare.