Flower Crab Spider (likely a species of Misumena or Mecaphesa)
Scientific Name: Misumena vatia (likely, or a closely related species within Thomisidae)
Order & Family: Order: Araneae, Family: Thomisidae
Size: Females typically range from 6-10 mm in body length; males are much smaller, usually 2-5 mm.
Natural Habitat
Flower crab spiders are commonly found on various flowers and vegetation, in gardens, fields, meadows, and forests, wherever there are blooming plants to provide hunting grounds.
Diet & Feeding
Mainly insects, including bees, flies, butterflies, and other pollinators that visit flowers. They will eat anything they can overpower.
Behavior Patterns
Crab spiders are ambush predators. They do not build webs for catching prey but instead wait disguised on flowers or other vegetation for insects to come within striking distance. They use their strong front legs to grasp and hold prey. They can change color over several days to match the flowers they are hunting on, though this is primarily observed in females of some species.
Risks & Benefits
Flower crab spiders are generally harmless to humans. Their venom is not considered medically significant to people, and bites are rare and usually only occur if they are provoked or accidentally trapped against the skin. They are beneficial insects as they are natural predators of other insects, helping to control pest populations in gardens and agricultural settings.
Identified on: 8/12/2025