Misumenoides formosipes

Misumenoides formosipes is a species of crab spiders found in the US and Canada. The species' unofficial common name is white banded crab spider, which refers to a white line that runs through the plane of their eyes.

Misumenoides formosipes
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Thomisidae
Genus: Misumenoides
Species:
M. formosipes
Binomial name
Misumenoides formosipes
(Walckenaer, 1837)

Description

This species is a sit-and-wait predator that captures pollinators as they visit the inflorescences on which the spider sits. The spider has strong front legs which are used to seize prey.[1] The female spider is much larger than the male. The length of females is 5.0–11.3 millimetres (0.20–0.44 in) and the length of males is 2.5–3.2 mm (0.10–0.13 in). The pattern of markings on females is variable and the overall color of the body can change between white and yellow dependent on the color of their surroundings. The color pattern for males, which does not change in their lifetime, differs from females in that the four front legs of males are dark brown and the abdomen is gold. The spider can be found throughout the United States.[2] Males search for sedentary females within a heterogeneous habitat.[3]

References
  1. Rainer F. Foelix (1996). Biology of Spiders. Oxford University Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-19-509594-4.
  2. "Misumenoides formosipes". San Diego Natural History Museum. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  3. Leo M. Stellwag & Gary N. Dodson (2010). "Navigation by male crab spiders Misumenoides formosipes (Araneae: Thomisidae): floral cues may aid in locating potential mates". Journal of Insect Behavior. 23 (3): 226–335. doi:10.1007/s10905-010-9209-9.
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