Look closely at a yellow flower and you may see the
Crab Spider -- also called the Goldenrod Spider -- sitting
on it!
This hunting spider has a short, broad abdomen and
legs that are held outstretched to the side that enable
it to move sideways, forward and back just like a crab.
The male Crab Spider is 1/8 inch long, and the female
is 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch long. Usually white with red
stripes on the sides of the abdomen, this spider can
change its color to yellow.
Habitat
Crab Spiders live throughout North America and southern
Canada.
The Goldenrod Crab Spider is commonly found in Virginia's
gardens, meadow, fields, woods edges, and shrubbery.
Its favorite habitat would be on flower blossoms, particularly
those yellow or white in color, like daisies or goldenrod
flowers.
Food
Goldenrod Spiders prey upon insects that land on flowers
such as bees, wasps, butterflies and moths.
Their camouflage ability allows this spider to blend
with the yellow color of flowers and remain unseen by
their prey.
While these spiders are considered to be hunters, they
most often wait for their prey to come to them and then
bite and capture their food!
Defense
The Goldenrod Spider has the unique ability to camouflage
itself by changing its color from white to yellow.
By blending with the color of a flower blossom, it
is difficult to be seen by either its predators or its
prey!
If threatened by a predator, the Crab Spider can drop off the flower by means of a dragline, later
climbing back up to reposition itself on the blossom.
