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Green Crab (Misumessus oblongus)

The green crab spider, belonging to the Thomisidae or crab spiders family is found in parts of the United States and Canada.

Green Crab

Scientific Classification

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Females are 0.12 -0.27 in (0.30-0.68 cm) and males are half the size of the females. Females are 0.12 – 0.27 inches (0.30-0.68 cm), while males are half their size.

Color: They have a light or emerald green body, with red bands on both sides of their abdomen, that might or might not be present.

Other Characteristic Features: The abdomen appears slender with a kite-like or diamond pattern.

Green Crab Spider Female

Eggs

A female green crab spider lays eggs in silk sacs protecting them as long as she lives, since most of them die before the spiderlings hatch.

Green Crab Spider Egg Sac

Spiderlings

After overwintering, the eggs hatch in the following spring.

The Web

Green crab spiders do not make webs to catch prey. Both the sexes spin silk for different purposes. The males cover their mate with the silk whose size could be double theirs. Whereas, the female green crab spiders use it to make the sac for laying eggs.

Are Green Crab Spiders Poisonous

Green crab spiders are venomous to their preys but not to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina
Habitat Grasslands, woodlands, backyards of the house, garages
Diet Smaller spiders, moths, centipedes, millipedes and insects
Lifespan Around 1 year
Predators Birds, bigger spiders, ants, wasps, and lizards
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed
Green Crab Spider

Did You Know

  • The females of this species, with their green body, and flat, elongated stature, perfectly camouflage the grass they inhabit.

Image Credits: Nature.mdc.mo.gov, Farm4.staticflickr.com, Bugguide.net

The green crab spider, belonging to the Thomisidae or crab spiders family is found in parts of the United States and Canada.

Green Crab

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Females are 0.12 -0.27 in (0.30-0.68 cm) and males are half the size of the females. Females are 0.12 – 0.27 inches (0.30-0.68 cm), while males are half their size.

Color: They have a light or emerald green body, with red bands on both sides of their abdomen, that might or might not be present.

Other Characteristic Features: The abdomen appears slender with a kite-like or diamond pattern.

Green Crab Spider Female

Eggs

A female green crab spider lays eggs in silk sacs protecting them as long as she lives, since most of them die before the spiderlings hatch.

Green Crab Spider Egg Sac

Spiderlings

After overwintering, the eggs hatch in the following spring.

The Web

Green crab spiders do not make webs to catch prey. Both the sexes spin silk for different purposes. The males cover their mate with the silk whose size could be double theirs. Whereas, the female green crab spiders use it to make the sac for laying eggs.

Are Green Crab Spiders Poisonous

Green crab spiders are venomous to their preys but not to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina
Habitat Grasslands, woodlands, backyards of the house, garages
Diet Smaller spiders, moths, centipedes, millipedes and insects
Lifespan Around 1 year
Predators Birds, bigger spiders, ants, wasps, and lizards
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed
Green Crab Spider

Did You Know

  • The females of this species, with their green body, and flat, elongated stature, perfectly camouflage the grass they inhabit.

Image Credits: Nature.mdc.mo.gov, Farm4.staticflickr.com, Bugguide.net

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