Bug Identifier
White Crab Spider
Community identification

White Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

Order & Family
Araneae, Thomisidae
Size
Females typically 8-10 mm; males 3-4 mm.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Gardens, meadows, fields, and other floral environments where they can ambush prey. They often sit on flowers camouflaged to match their surroundings.

Diet & Feeding

Predatory. They primarily feed on various insects, including bees, flies, butterflies, and other pollinators, which they ambush on flowers.

Behavior Patterns

These spiders are ambush predators that do not build webs for catching prey. Instead, they sit on flowers and wait for insects to come to them. They are well-known for their ability to change color (within a few days) between white and yellow to match the flowers they are hunting on, providing excellent camouflage.

Risks & Benefits

Generally beneficial to ecosystems as they help control insect populations. They pose no significant risk to humans; their venom is not considered medically significant, and they rarely bite. Their color-changing ability and predatory habits make them interesting subjects for ecological studies.