Crab Spiders, Flower Spiders (Thomisidae)

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Spiders Page | Jeff's Nature Pages

There are several species of Flower Spiders (a group of Crab Spiders) in North Carolina. Flower Spiders sit on flowers and slowly change their colors to match the flower. Their front two legs are greatly enlarged and are adapted to grab prey items, such as flies, bees, butterflies, and other insects that visit the flowers. They do not spin webs and are not known to be dangerous to humans.

	Flower Spider on Verbena Orange Co., NC 24 Sep 2006
	Flower Spider on Balduina uniflora Carteret Co., NC 27 Aug 2006
	Flower Spider on Balduina uniflora Carteret Co., NC 27 Aug 2006
	Flower Spider on Balduina uniflora Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2007
	Flower Spider on Balduina uniflora Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2007

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Created on ... Sep 8, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu