Photo: Flower Spider

I discovered this creature lurking with intent on one of my Spanish lavender blooms. It is a Crab or Flower spider, named (respectively) for its crab-like appearance and for its habit of hiding inside flowers to ambush unsuspecting pollinators. This individual is so exposed, however, that it will probably be avoided by its prey and picked off by a predator pretty soon.

Crab spiders have excellent vision for motion, and I had to chase this critter around and around the flower to get a good shot. They don't spin a web, and with their powerful venom (not harmful to humans) they don't need to wrap their captives with silk to immobilize them. The females do use silk to encase their eggs. Not all species are white, and some are able to change colour (over a span of days) between white and yellow to match the flower they're inhabiting. When not disturbed by back yard photographers they will lie in wait for days or even weeks to catch their prey. For crab spiders, it's all about location, location, location.

Comments

[Trailhead]

Wonderful photograph!

[Sylvia]

Thanks. :)

[JLB]

These ARE wonderful spiders! I always know where to find them - usually in my roses and other brightly colored flowers. I've seen them white and yellow, and I've learned to love them.

It's true, they have great vision, and are adept at camouflage! They are among the only spiders that don't creep me out. :)

Thanks for sharing this picture - it's gorgeous.