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Flower Crab (Misumena)

The flower crab spider is a genus of the crab spider family, including 42 spiders, as noted by the World Spider Catalog in 2008. One can mostly find them sitting on flowers, which indeed is a reason behind their name.

Scientific Classification

Flower Crab Spider

 

List of Spiders Belonging to the Genus

Misumena adelae Misumena alpha Misumena amabilis
Misumena annapurna Misumena arrogans Misumena atrocincta
Misumena beta Misumena bicolor Misumena bipunctata
Misumena citreoides Misumena conferta Misumena fasciata
Misumena fidelis Misumena frenata Misumena ganpatii
Misumena greenae Misumena grubei Misumena indra
Misumena innotata Misumena lorentzi Misumena luteovariata
Misumena maputiyana Misumena maronica Misumena mridulai
Misumena nana Misumena nigripes Misumena nigromaculata
Misumena oblonga Misumena pallescens Misumena peninsulana
Misumena picta Misumena platimanu Misumena quadrivulvata
Misumena rubripes Misumena spinifera Misumena spinigaster
Misumena tapyasuka Misumena terrosa Misumena variegata
Misumena vatia Misumena vazquezae Misumena viridans
Flower Crab Spider Picture

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Usually females are 0.29 -0.35 inches (0.7 – 0.8 cm) and males are smaller sizing 0.11 – 0.15 inches (0.27-0.38 cm).

Color: The typical coloration seen in species of this genus include yellow, pink, white, and brown.

Other Characteristic Features: Some species like the goldenrod crab spider have a broad and flat body with a crab-like appearance.

Flower Crab Spider Size

Eggs

Around 45 eggs are laid inside a wooly egg sac, kept hidden under leafy shelters.

Spiderlings

Young spiders grow up helping their mother build new nests while being fed by her. Upon maturity, they start migrating and looking for mates.

The Web

They do not spin webs but rely on their camouflaging ability to catch prey.

Are Flower Crab Spiders Venomous

They might bite that leaves a painful sensation for a few hours which are not harmful to people.

White Flower Crab Spider

Quick Facts

Distribution South America, Asia, and Africa
Habitat Flowers, leaves
Diet Small insects
Predators Larger spiders, birds, and lizards
Yellow Flower Crab Spider

Did You know

  • The largest species of this genus is the goldenrod crab spider, which has the unique ability to change its color from white to yellow to complement the flower it sits on.

Image Credits: Notesfromtheroad.com, Allanimalia.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com, Flnature.files.wordpress.com

The flower crab spider is a genus of the crab spider family, including 42 spiders, as noted by the World Spider Catalog in 2008. One can mostly find them sitting on flowers, which indeed is a reason behind their name.

Flower Crab Spider

 

List of Spiders Belonging to the Genus

Misumena adelae Misumena alpha Misumena amabilis
Misumena annapurna Misumena arrogans Misumena atrocincta
Misumena beta Misumena bicolor Misumena bipunctata
Misumena citreoides Misumena conferta Misumena fasciata
Misumena fidelis Misumena frenata Misumena ganpatii
Misumena greenae Misumena grubei Misumena indra
Misumena innotata Misumena lorentzi Misumena luteovariata
Misumena maputiyana Misumena maronica Misumena mridulai
Misumena nana Misumena nigripes Misumena nigromaculata
Misumena oblonga Misumena pallescens Misumena peninsulana
Misumena picta Misumena platimanu Misumena quadrivulvata
Misumena rubripes Misumena spinifera Misumena spinigaster
Misumena tapyasuka Misumena terrosa Misumena variegata
Misumena vatia Misumena vazquezae Misumena viridans
Flower Crab Spider Picture

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Usually females are 0.29 -0.35 inches (0.7 – 0.8 cm) and males are smaller sizing 0.11 – 0.15 inches (0.27-0.38 cm).

Color: The typical coloration seen in species of this genus include yellow, pink, white, and brown.

Other Characteristic Features: Some species like the goldenrod crab spider have a broad and flat body with a crab-like appearance.

Flower Crab Spider Size

Eggs

Around 45 eggs are laid inside a wooly egg sac, kept hidden under leafy shelters.

Spiderlings

Young spiders grow up helping their mother build new nests while being fed by her. Upon maturity, they start migrating and looking for mates.

The Web

They do not spin webs but rely on their camouflaging ability to catch prey.

Are Flower Crab Spiders Venomous

They might bite that leaves a painful sensation for a few hours which are not harmful to people.

White Flower Crab Spider

Quick Facts

Distribution South America, Asia, and Africa
Habitat Flowers, leaves
Diet Small insects
Predators Larger spiders, birds, and lizards
Yellow Flower Crab Spider

Did You know

  • The largest species of this genus is the goldenrod crab spider, which has the unique ability to change its color from white to yellow to complement the flower it sits on.

Image Credits: Notesfromtheroad.com, Allanimalia.com, lh3.googleusercontent.com, Flnature.files.wordpress.com