Slender Crab Spider
Scientific Name: Tibellus oblongus
Order & Family: Order: Araneae, Family: Philodromidae
Size: Body length 7-10 mm for females, 5-7 mm for males.
Natural Habitat
Found in tall grasses, meadows, and low vegetation where it can blend in with dry grass blades.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; hunts small insects like flies, aphids, and leafhoppers by ambush rather than using a web.
Behavior Patterns
Diurnal hunters that flatten their bodies against grass stems to remain camouflaged. They are fast runners but do not build webs for catching prey.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; provides ecological benefits by controlling agricultural and garden pest populations.
Identified on: 6/20/2026