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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Crab Spiders (Thomisidae) » Flower Crab Spiders (Misumena) » Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia)
Photo#18989
Goldenrod Crab Spider - Misumena vatia - male
Copyright © 2005 Kildale

Goldenrod Crab Spider - Misumena vatia - Male
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
June 1, 2005
Size: 1/4 inch
Not a clear photo but the marking s show up OK. Took a few shots but it was so small. Couldn't get a decent picture. ID would be great, thanks.
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Contributed by Kildale on 2 June, 2005 - 3:16pm
Last updated 2 June, 2005 - 6:41pm

Male Misumena vatia
Have a look at the male Misumena vatia on this page and the illustration on the bottom of page 94 of Spiders and Their Kin. (1)
… Mike Boone, 2 June, 2005 - 4:43pm login or register to post comments

 
I agree.
Apparently the males are known to feed not only on insects, but on POLLEN! There was a great article about that in "Natural History Magazine" several years ago.
… Eric R. Eaton, 2 June, 2005 - 5:50pm login or register to post comments

Possibly a Crab Spider
I wish I still had my spider identification books, but I had to return them to the library, alas.

But, I would look around in the images of the crab spiders (Family: Thomisidae) to see if any of them appear similar. If you have access to a library, try and see if they have any field guides or a spider book by Kaston or Comstock.

I wish I could help you more!
… Catfisha, 2 June, 2005 - 3:37pm login or register to post comments

 
Spider.
Thank you all for the info. There are three females at least that I have seen at the same time onvarious plants so this kind of makes sense that there could be a male around. Much smaller however.
… Kildale, 2 June, 2005 - 7:21pm login or register to post comments

 
Sizes
I just updated the guide page for this species. Kaston states females are 6-9mm, males 2.9-4mm. (1)
… Mike Boone, 2 June, 2005 - 7:27pm login or register to post comments

 
Spider
That sounds about right for the ones I have seen.
… Kildale, 2 June, 2005 - 7:54pm login or register to post comments

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