|
|
|
Crab Spider 2
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Misumena vatia is a species of crab spider with holarctic distribution. In North America, where it is the largest and most well-known flower spider, it is called the Goldenrod crab spider, because it is commonly found hunting in Goldenrod sprays in the autumn.
Females can grow up to 10 mm (without legs), males reach 5 mm at most.
Young females in the early summer may be quite small and easily overlooked. These spiders may be yellow or white, depending on the flower in which they are hunting. Especially younger females, which may hunt on a variety of flowers such as daisies and sunflowers, may change color "at will". Older females require large amounts of relatively large prey to produce the best possible clutch of eggs. They are, therefore, in North America most commonly found in Goldenrod (Solidago sp.), a bright yellow flower which attracts large numbers of insects, especially in autumn. It is often very hard even for a searching human to recognize one of these spiders on a yellow flower. |
Art_R has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 54 W: 71 N: 260]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 294 W: 3 N: 800]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(2856)![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 16 N: 478]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(1975)