A Mating Pair of Misumena vatia

While enjoying lunch on our deck my wife pointed out the female crab spider on a blossom. Initially it was quite relaxed but when any sort of insect flew by it immediately stretched out its forelegs. After a time I noticed a smaller spider getting closer and closer till it started crawling over the female. Only then did I realize it was a male. The pair got tired of me watching and crawled into the darker recesses!

comments (12)

Patomarazul

Lion

Woow! I think I had never seen the male or maybe I did and did not know it was the same species...nice! Posted 5 years ago
1. gary fast
  
  Lion
  
  Yes, so tiny compared to the female. Posted 5 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

lol that bottom right frame is my favorite :) Posted 5 years ago
1. gary fast
  
  Lion
  
  I hope he survived “the encounter”! Posted 5 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Super cool observation! I don't think I've ever seen/noticed a male before. Posted 5 years ago
1. gary fast
  
  Lion
  
  I have but it was not photogenic having lost a leg or two. That is the norm because of fights with other males and larger prey. To find a mate the male follows the single strand that the female lays down in her travels. There is no pheromone and he just goes in any direction hoping to find a receptive mate. Seems kind of willy-nilly to me! The female is still there this morning after catching a rather large bumblebee last evening. Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    That's amazing that he finds a female by following a strand of silk! Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. gary fast
      
      Lion
      
      Yes, I thought it was interesting as well. Even more interesting is the fact that the process seems to be so haphazard with what seems like little guidance from the actual strand. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Really weird. I have noticed long, single, horizontal strands of silk in meadows and often wondered what the purpose of them was. Perhaps I should look more closely next time! Posted 5 years ago
      2. gary fast
        
        Lion
        
        Good luck! Posted 5 years ago

Ruth Spigelman

Lion

Superb documentation Gary, most enjoyable. Contrast between sexes remarkable, colour and form. Posted 4 years ago
1. gary fast
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Ruth. Yes, hard to believe they’re a “pair”. 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 gary fast

By gary fast

Uploaded Jul 17, 2020. Captured in 315 Whaletown Rd, Whaletown, BC V0P 1Z0, Canada.

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