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White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) I found the yellow-form of this spider on Oenothera biennis at a disturbed forest edge. I accidentally knocked it off of the plant but returned it to the flower promptly!<br />
<br />
Females of species have the ability to change color (between yellow and white) to match their hunting grounds (usually flowers). This proves really helpful in ambushing prey and avoiding predators. The process of changing colors can take up to three weeks, and the energetic cost for spiders making these changes can be quite high.<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103512/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html" title="White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3231/103512_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=Z0hEG5j2BehujQEuMSBFkpOq50Y%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) I found the yellow-form of this spider on Oenothera biennis at a disturbed forest edge. I accidentally knocked it off of the plant but returned it to the flower promptly! <br />
<br />
Females of species have the ability to change color (between yellow and white) to match their hunting grounds (usually flowers). This proves really helpful in ambushing prey and avoiding predators. The process of changing colors can take up to three weeks, and the energetic cost for spiders making these changes can be quite high.<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103511/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103510/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html Fall,Geotagged,Misumenoides formosipes,United States,White-banded Crab Spider" /></a></figure><br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103511/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html" title="White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3231/103511_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=WHrp8jsNgGH%2Bl0F0eXd8UlNy4Y8%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) I found the yellow-form of this spider on Oenothera biennis at a disturbed forest edge. I accidentally knocked it off of the plant but returned it to the flower promptly! <br />
<br />
Females of species have the ability to change color (between yellow and white) to match their hunting grounds (usually flowers). This proves really helpful in ambushing prey and avoiding predators. The process of changing colors can take up to three weeks, and the energetic cost for spiders making these changes can be quite high.<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103512/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103510/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html Fall,Geotagged,Misumenoides formosipes,United States,White-banded Crab Spider" /></a></figure> Fall,Geotagged,Misumenoides formosipes,United States,White-banded Crab Spider Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes)

I found the yellow-form of this spider on Oenothera biennis at a disturbed forest edge. I accidentally knocked it off of the plant but returned it to the flower promptly!

Females of species have the ability to change color (between yellow and white) to match their hunting grounds (usually flowers). This proves really helpful in ambushing prey and avoiding predators. The process of changing colors can take up to three weeks, and the energetic cost for spiders making these changes can be quite high.

White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) I found the yellow-form of this spider on Oenothera biennis at a disturbed forest edge. I accidentally knocked it off of the plant but returned it to the flower promptly! <br />
<br />
Females of species have the ability to change color (between yellow and white) to match their hunting grounds (usually flowers). This proves really helpful in ambushing prey and avoiding predators. The process of changing colors can take up to three weeks, and the energetic cost for spiders making these changes can be quite high.<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103511/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103510/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html Fall,Geotagged,Misumenoides formosipes,United States,White-banded Crab Spider

White-banded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) I found the yellow-form of this spider on Oenothera biennis at a disturbed forest edge. I accidentally knocked it off of the plant but returned it to the flower promptly! <br />
<br />
Females of species have the ability to change color (between yellow and white) to match their hunting grounds (usually flowers). This proves really helpful in ambushing prey and avoiding predators. The process of changing colors can take up to three weeks, and the energetic cost for spiders making these changes can be quite high.<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103512/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/103510/white-banded_crab_spider_misumenoides_formosipes.html Fall,Geotagged,Misumenoides formosipes,United States,White-banded Crab Spider

    comments (7)

  1. Very cool! I did not know it was such a long process! Posted 4 years ago
    1. I wasn't aware of it until I started reading the research articles out there! I need to brush up! It seems that they up or downregulate the production of certain compounds in order to change color? Posted 4 years ago
      1. It also explains why I sometimes find a crab spider not camouflaged at all. It's "working on it" :) Posted 4 years ago
  2. Very pretty! Posted 4 years ago
    1. Thank you, Marta! <3 I think she did a fine job matching, don't you? Posted 4 years ago
  3. I think many of us learned something new today. Thank you Lisa Posted 4 years ago
    1. Awww! I'm glad to share these awesome facts with you all! Posted 4 years ago

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''Misumenoides formosipes'' is a species of crab spiders found in the US and Canada. The species' unofficial common name is white banded crab spider, which refers to a white line that runs through the plane of their eyes.

Similar species: Spiders
Species identified by Flown Kimmerling
View Flown Kimmerling's profile

By Flown Kimmerling

All rights reserved
Uploaded Oct 25, 2020. Captured Oct 11, 2020 15:32 in 227 Oakman Rd NE, Oakman, GA 30732, USA.
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  • f/22.0
  • 1/49s
  • ISO100
  • 100mm