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Crab spider (Misumena vatia)
"Crab spiders make up the Arachnidae family Thomisidae. They are also commonly called "flower spiders" because they are most often found on flowers, lying in ambush for prey. Crab spiders do not build webs to trap prey, but are active hunters.
There is just a single species in Britain belonging to the genus Misumena. As the common name suggests, it is reminiscent of a crab, with its wide, flattened body form and habit of sitting with the first pair of legs held apart. This spider has the remarkable ability to alter its colour to match its background, usually a white or yellow flower, allowing it to become beautifully camouflaged."
Well at least that's how this spider is described - this one appears to have a problem with camouflage however. Pictured with its prey (Bombus Sylvestris ?) on a foxglove flower .
"Crab spiders make up the Arachnidae family Thomisidae. They are also commonly called "flower spiders" because they are most often found on flowers, lying in ambush for prey. Crab spiders do not build webs to trap prey, but are active hunters.
There is just a single species in Britain belonging to the genus Misumena. As the common name suggests, it is reminiscent of a crab, with its wide, flattened body form and habit of sitting with the first pair of legs held apart. This spider has the remarkable ability to alter its colour to match its background, usually a white or yellow flower, allowing it to become beautifully camouflaged."
Well at least that's how this spider is described - this one appears to have a problem with camouflage however. Pictured with its prey (Bombus Sylvestris ?) on a foxglove flower .
posted by Simon.S at 4:42 am
2 Comments:
what wonderful markings on that splendid spider, shame about that poor helpless bumblebee, going about it daily duties and then being 'sucked in' by this lovely spider!!
Regards outdoor spider lover!!!!!
thanks for visiting, what great pictures of the spider, agree its a shame about the bee though. love your nice tidy beds and all your veggies, my beans have all blown over, I see you have all yours beautifully staked... ah well.. horse and door and all that!
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