Unknown Crab Spider from California - Misumena vatia

Wonderful!

That is a gorgeous spider! I've never seen one that looked purple when viewed at the right angle. Neat!

… kdclower, 24 May, 2015 - 8:37pm

There is only one Misumena on his California list.

M importunus was moved to Misumenops and is now in the new Mecaphesa. There is likely only one Misumena in the US. The only reference we can find for Misumena fidelis, other than Banks who found it in Mexico, lists Arizona, but we find no confirmation of that. And Rod Crawford says he doesn't know if anyone other than Banks has ever seen it! If true, all of our Misumena images belong in vatia. This image is typical mature male M. vatia.

… john and jane balaban, 5 August, 2010 - 9:04am

Glad someone can keep these straight. There's also -- or there was -- Misumenops (e.g. M. celer), but I'm embarrassed to say that I'd have to check the literature (or spend some time looking at them) to recall the specific differences (other than knowing the general appearance of M. celer). :-(

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 17 October, 2010 - 5:27am

thanks!

Thanks for all the detail!

… Ken-ichi Ueda, 6 August, 2010 - 12:32am

Considering the leg length...

...this should be called an Alaskan King Crab Spider!

… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 16 October, 2010 - 12:28pm

They do look long, but they are just the right size

for an armful of girlfriend -

… john and jane balaban, 16 October, 2010 - 4:16pm

I get it!

Males throughout arthropoda tend to have the big eyes and long arms!

...would you agree that my recent submission is a female? See...

… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 17 October, 2010 - 5:23pm

Moved

Moved from Crab Spiders.

… john and jane balaban, 2 August, 2010 - 8:45pm

Misumena sp.?

Looks like a Misumena male to me (although the carapace looks different from images of M. vatia that I've seen); there are 4 species in North America (Dondale & Redner, 1978). You might tak a quick peek at Steve Lew's list for CA.

Nice images.

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 27 June, 2010 - 3:13am

thanks

Looks like someone else ID'd it as M. vatia.

… Ken-ichi Ueda, 4 August, 2010 - 11:47pm