The Misumessus genus belongs to the crab spider family of the Caribbean and North America. There are seven species of this genus as per the February 2019 records.
Size: They are small in size, with the females having a body length of 3m, while males being half the size of the latter.
Color: The females are white or yellow while the males have a brown body.
Other Characteristic Features: The features vary,like, the Green Crab spider (Misumessus oblongus) has a diamond or kite-shaped feature on its abdomen.
The eggs are laid in silken sacs and intently protected by the females. The mother spiders of the Misumessus oblongus die before their eggs hatch.
Not much information exists regarding the juvenile spiders of this genus.
Belonging to the family of crab spiders, species of the Misumessus genus do not make webs for capturing prey. The silk they spin is used up for several other purposes.
Spiders of this genus are harmless to humans, and their bite would result in minimum pain and swelling.
| Lifespan | Approximately one year |
| Distribution | Parts of the Caribbean and North America |
| Habitat | Woodland and fields |
| Predators | Wasps, birds, bigger spiders |
| Diet | Insects, centipedes, millipedes, moths and small spiders |
Image Credits: bugguide.net
The Misumessus genus belongs to the crab spider family of the Caribbean and North America. There are seven species of this genus as per the February 2019 records.
Size: They are small in size, with the females having a body length of 3m, while males being half the size of the latter.
Color: The females are white or yellow while the males have a brown body.
Other Characteristic Features: The features vary,like, the Green Crab spider (Misumessus oblongus) has a diamond or kite-shaped feature on its abdomen.
The eggs are laid in silken sacs and intently protected by the females. The mother spiders of the Misumessus oblongus die before their eggs hatch.
Not much information exists regarding the juvenile spiders of this genus.
Belonging to the family of crab spiders, species of the Misumessus genus do not make webs for capturing prey. The silk they spin is used up for several other purposes.
Spiders of this genus are harmless to humans, and their bite would result in minimum pain and swelling.
| Lifespan | Approximately one year |
| Distribution | Parts of the Caribbean and North America |
| Habitat | Woodland and fields |
| Predators | Wasps, birds, bigger spiders |
| Diet | Insects, centipedes, millipedes, moths and small spiders |
Image Credits: bugguide.net
Mumpi Ghosh on September 9, 2019.
Dr. Watuwa James
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