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Photo#74768
Wide-Armed Male Crab Spider - Misumenoides formosipes - male

Wide-Armed Male Crab Spider - Misumenoides formosipes - Male
Near Ruraldale, Upshur County, West Virginia, USA
September 2, 2006
What an unusual spider! The front two pairs of legs were both much darker in color and much longer than the rear two pairs.

This species seems highly variable, from individual to individual, and with males compared to females.

The encounter began when I noticed the spider was on my thumb. I placed him on a leaf and took a couple of pictures. Then, thinking I had placed him in an odd posture, I tried to get him so his ventral side was facing down to the leaf. He didn't like that, though, and insisted on maintaining this position.

My word!
The things you see if you keep your eyes open :-)

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