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Thomisus onustus
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Thomisus onustus Walckenaer, 1805
Araneae: Thomicidae
Thomisus onustus is a crab spider species shows an extreme sexual dimorphism both in size and coloration, also in comparison with other crab spiders. The adult males reach a body length of only 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in), while females are 7–10 millimetres (0.28–0.39 in) long. I posted a male in WS. That in picture is a female. This species is characterized by the prominent rear corners of the opisthosoma.
In males the basic colour of the prosoma varies from yellow brown to dark brown (see in WS), the opisthosoma may be yellow and green or brown. Also females are very variable in colour, their basic colour can be white, yellow or pink.
As a matter of fact these crab-spiders hide themselves adapting the colour of their body to the colour of the flowers on which they are waiting for preys, a behaviour that conceal them from predators and from the pollinating preys. Like other species of the family Thomisidae these crab spiders do not make a web, but actively pursue their preys. They usually wait for preys positioned for hunting on flowers. The spiders are disguised by assuming the same colour as the flower, fooling both insect and bird predators. The prey consists of flower-visiting insects of all species, such as hover flies, bees, wasps, butterflies or beetles, which are often several times larger than the spider. Here it crabs a very important pollinating insect , Eucera sp. They take their preys with two powerful and highly enlarged front leg pairs and usually kill them by biting on the back of their neck. Emerging spiderlings of Thomisus onustus may feed on pollen or nectar when insect preys are lacking. |
Hotelcalifornia, marius-secan, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Hello Nikos,
Well exposure and BG. Well captured the moment of injecting venom. Nice and perfect light on Crab spider.
Thanks and regards,
Srikumar
- lousat
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(65489) - [2016-06-06 16:13]
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Hi Nikos,magnificent macro showing us this crab spider and its big prey,a great capture very sharp despite the difficult position and great WS too! Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
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- tuslaw
(19883)
- [2016-06-06 18:56]
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Hello Nikos,
A fantastic macro image of both female and male crab spiders. Exceptional detail in this featured shot and beautiful colors. Exposure is perfect and I really like your composition with the blurred BG. Great job!!
Ron
Hello Nikos,
Very interesting image with this tinny but powerful crab spider. Great details and colors.
Marius.
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(29598)