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Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia)


Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Goldenrod Crab Spider


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Whether the bright yellow Goldenrod Crab Spider has or lacks trademark red stripes, the tiny spider stills blends in well with its namesake flowers.



Updated: 01/04/2022; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
This species of spider adeptly uses camouflage as its primary defense as well as offense. It will bite to protect itself if a predator is actually able to see it and attack. Goldenrod Crab Spiders are able to alter their coloration over the course of several days in order to blend in better with their surroundings. This means a bright yellow spider one day may look light green a week later.

This spider is an ambush spider, jumping on its prey. It does this instead of spinning webs, waiting for something to get entangled. Instead, a Goldenrod Crab Spider will sit in the center of a flower, preferably a Goldenrod flower which are yellow, and quietly wait for a bee or butterfly to come and collect pollen. Once near enough, the spider will close in and grab it. Very long front pairs of legs are used to grasp the insect prey, then the spider bites to immobilize it. This species of spider is able to grab insects much larger than itself using those strong legs. The longer front legs are usually stretched out to the side, giving the spider a crab-like appearance.

Males are smaller and have dark, black front legs and pale green back legs. The creamy white abdomen has two dark red lines running down the center. The head area is also dark. Younger males have not developed the dark pigmentation and are a light green color. Females may be completely white or yellow. They may or may not have red bands, spots or stripes on the sides of the round and plump abdomen. All the legs on a female are pale, in contrast to the two-toned nature of the male's legs. After mating, a female lays an egg sac, usually under a leaf, and diligently guards it until the spiderlings hatch (in approximately 3 weeks). She dies shortly thereafter.©InsectIdentification.org




Known Diet of the Goldenrod-Crab-Spider



insects
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General Characteristics


Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers


Taxonomic Hierarchy


Species Breakdown
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Arachnida
      Order: Araneae
        Family: Thomisidae
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          Genus: Misumena
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            Species: vatia

Identifying Information


Size, Colors, Features
Scientific Name: Misumena vatia
Other Name(s): Flower Spider
Category: Spider
Size (Adult; Length): 3mm to 9mm (0.11" to 0.35")
Colorwheel Graphic Colors: yellow; red


Relative Size Comparison


Typical Size Between 3mm (0.1in) and 9mm (0.4in)
Lo: 3mm
Md: 6mm
Hi: 9mm

Territorial Map*


U.S., Canada, and Mexico
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Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic
Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic
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Canadian territory of Quebec graphic
Canadian territory of Saskatchewan graphic
Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico
Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic
Alaska  
Hawaii  
Prince Edward Is.  
* MAP NOTES: The territorial heat map above showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Goldenrod Crab Spider may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data is useful when attempting to see concentrations of particular species across the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some insects are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America. States/Territories shown above are a general indicator of areas inhabited by the Goldenrod Crab Spider. Insects generally go where they please, typically driven by diet, environmental changes, and / or mating habits.
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