Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) Feeding

A Goldenrod Crab Spider feeds on a relatively large fly atop a rose bud. This sighting was my first time ever seeing a Crab Spider, but I have now found a couple around the flowers. It's amazing the things that can be found when you take a closer look!

comments (8)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Marvelous action scene, well done! Posted 4 years ago
1. Wesley Goorachan
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you so much Ferdy! Posted 4 years ago

Calbost Niel

Lion

Great find Wesley Posted 4 years ago
1. Wesley Goorachan
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Niel! Posted 4 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Ahhh, very cool! Posted 4 years ago
1. Wesley Goorachan
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you Christine! Posted 4 years ago

Ruth Spigelman

Lion

This is awesome as it shows that size disparity between hunter and hunted is no issue for these eight legged marvels. Super observation. Posted 4 years ago
1. Wesley Goorachan
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks for your comment Ruth! I noticed these spiders (at least the ones I've been seeing) prefer hunting larger insects than they are and almost always leave the smaller insects alone. Posted 4 years ago

The Goldenrod crab spider

"Misumena vatia" is a species of crab spider with holarctic distribution. In North America, where it is the largest and best-known flower spider, it is called the goldenrod crab spider or flower spider, because it is commonly found hunting in goldenrod sprays in the autumn.

Info 81 1

Similar species: Spiders

Species identified by Wesley Goorachan