vayda on Nostr: 🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨 The ‘flower crab spider’ (Misumena vatia) is a ...
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
The ‘flower crab spider’ (Misumena vatia) is a white species of spider in the family Thomisidae. These are an unusual small type of white spider that can change its color. These garden spiders get their common name from the crab-like way they hold their legs.
Color changes of white spiders is a camouflage mechanism to catch their prey. The white spiders can turn bright yellow if they are on yellow flowers. In North America, you can sometimes find these crab spiders on goldenrod flowers. Because of their bright yellow colors, they are also called ‘banana spiders.’
These are quite small spiders. Females can grow up to 0.39” (10 mm) excluding legs; males reach half this size at most.
The ‘flower crab spider’ (Misumena vatia) is a white species of spider in the family Thomisidae. These are an unusual small type of white spider that can change its color. These garden spiders get their common name from the crab-like way they hold their legs.
Color changes of white spiders is a camouflage mechanism to catch their prey. The white spiders can turn bright yellow if they are on yellow flowers. In North America, you can sometimes find these crab spiders on goldenrod flowers. Because of their bright yellow colors, they are also called ‘banana spiders.’
These are quite small spiders. Females can grow up to 0.39” (10 mm) excluding legs; males reach half this size at most.