crab spiders
family Thomisidae
Member of
entelegyne spiders (infraorder Entelegynae)
typical spiders (suborder Araneomorphae)
spiders (order Araneae)
arachnids (class Arachnida)
chelicerates (subphylum Chelicerata)
arthropods (phylum Arthropoda)
animals (kingdom Animalia)
The front two pairs of legs are much longer than the rear two pairs.
related flower hunters
ID tips and example photos
goldenrod crab spider
Misumena vatiaCaution: ID unsure
- two rows of eyes, all the same size, often (always?) arranged in the borders of a crescent-shaped darker marking
- no spines on body
- leg spines are only in a row on each of the front two pairs of legs
- females are larger, white to yellow, eye area tinged red, with red band on both sides of abdomen or not
- males are smaller, cephalothorax and front two pairs of legs red to reddish-brown, rear two pairs of legs yellow, abdomen white with dorsal and lateral red bands
- essentially no black markings
- the only other species of this genus that may occur in the US hasn’t been seen since it was described in 1898 [source]
white-banded crab spider
Misumenoides formosipes
- spines unknown (similar to Misumena?)
- black markings common, especially at joints
genus Mecaphesa
- has short spines/hairs on body and legs
- two rows of eyes; front outside eyes larger than front inside eyes [although the difference is small]
- multiple species in the bay area
1 observed taxon / 2 unobserved taxons / 1 key
Chris’s observations: 10 (none are research grade)
Locations:
- Sunol Wilderness RP: 2
- Almaden Quicksilver CP
- Butano SP
- Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
- Henry Coe SP
- Nisene Marks SP
- Russian Ridge OSP
- San Bruno Mountain State & County Park
- Santa Teresa CP
Months:
- Mar.: 1
- Apr.: 3
- May: 3
- Jun.: 1
- Jul.: 0
- Aug.: 2
For more details, use advanced search.
Taxon info:
iNaturalist
Bay Area species:
iNaturalist
