Misumena vatia

Identifying Features

Goldenrod crab spiders are yellow to white with red markings on their abdomen. Their bodies are short and flat, giving a crab-like appearance.

Habitat & Range

They live in fields and are often found on flowers. Their range spreads across much of the United States, Mexico, and Canada. They are also found throughout Europe.

Behavior

These spiders do not build webs. Instead, they will hide and wait on flowers and capture insects that land on the flowers. They will use venom to paralyze their food, and do not wrap them in silk.

Life Cycle

Females will use their silk to protect their eggs.

Featured image by Luc Viatour