Crab Spiders
Crab spiders are small, (about 5mm) white, yellowy or gray and have crablike legs. They blend in with the environment they choose to patrol. They are not insects but arachnids.
Crab Spider-Ed Nieuwenhuys (left), Crab Spider-University of Minnesota (right)
Description
All spiders are beneficial even though most will bite you. They walk like a crab and can move very fast in an ambush. They have very good eyesight and can quickly hide under leaves if they see predators. These spiders are not web weavers but rely on ambush. Crab spiders are recognized by their 4 front legs that are very long and 4 back legs a bit shorter.
Photos Ed Nieuwenhuys
Habitat and Lifecycle
There are hundreds of different species found worldwide. The mother makes a huge cocoon in which to lay her eggs and then transports it to high flowers and then guards the sac till hatching. During this time she does not feed but instead chases away attackers. After 5-6 weeks she pokes a hole in the cocoon so her babies can emerge. After this she dies of starvation and the babies begin feeding on her carcass. Crab spiders will remain in the same area for weeks if their food doesn’t run out.
Egg Sac-unknown photographer
Diet
Crab spiders eat any insect that crosses it’s path. This includes other spiders, flies, bees, mosquitoes, butterflies, caterpillars, ants etc. They are usually found on your flowers, stems, leaves and other ornamentals.
June 9th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
gross!!!!!!!!!spiders r so gross
June 16th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
This spider is very interesting to watch and is very beautiful… Way cool…
July 7th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Hi
I have moved to Tennesee from California. The people here say so much about spiders. I know nothing. There are spiders everywhere around my house, outside on the plants. I don’t know if they are harmless or not. I have looked online everywhere for help. Do you know how I can find out what kinds of spiders are here? Whether they are good or not.
Thanks
October 30th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
I keep finding these buggers in my house, is there any way to get rid of them?
April 8th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
my garden is infested with black, hairy, mini-tarantula spiders. a coworker told me thay are called “bold jumping spiders” and are fairly comom where we liv here in northern california. i know all spiders are good as far as pest control goes, but since they have moved into my garden i am afraid to bring flowers into the house! i would love to be able to enjoy my dahlias and roses indoors, but the buggers hide inside the flowers and don’t even come out when i shake them… after finding the fourth one crawling inside my living room enough was enough. any suggestions on a natural way of keeping them out of my flowers?