Whitebanded Crab Spider
Misumenoides formosipes
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Regional
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Barling, Arkansas
Deer, Arkansas
Marion, Arkansas
Long Beach, California
Valley Center, California
Conway, Missouri
Hallettsville, Texas
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Gardener's Notes:
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Magpye
Males are smaller than females and have much longer legs. Crab spiders wait in ambush for passing insects; some hold their front legs outstretched in readiness.
Their jaws are small, and after prey is bitten .. it is held above the spider and sucked dry. Those that sit on flowers .. apparently have a toxin potent to bees, flies, and other insects much larger than themselves .. including butterflies.
They do not use silk to capture prey .. but in courship, the male may wrap his prospective mate loosely in silk. Females of most species guard the egg sac, but d... read more