Crab Spiders
Quick Facts
Scientific name: Misumena vatia
Size: Head and body up to 10mm long
Distribution: Common in the Southern half of the UK
Months seen: April to September
Habitat: Usually found on yellow or white flowers
Food: Bees, flies and other small invertebrates
Special features: Crab spiders are able to change their body colour to match their background. It can take a few days, but they can appear white, yellow or green. They frequently have two red lines running along the sides of their abdomen, but these are sometimes very faint or not present at all. The male Crab Spider is much smaller than the female.
Crab spiders sit patiently on flowers waiting for insects to land within grabbing distance. They trap them between their crab-like front legs.
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