Goldenrod Crab Spider Misumena vatia
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Habitat
The goldenrod crab spider can be found all over the Northern Hemisphere, and it gets its name from the goldenrod sprays in which it hunts during the autumn. Other hunting grounds for this spider include spotted joe-pye weed, ox-eye, spotted jewelweed, evergreen blackberry, common milkweed, queen anne's lace, common dandelion, black-eyed susan, bird-foot violet, bushy aster, swamp rose mallow, and common mullein. Goldenrod crab spiders can range from yellow to white, depending on their current flower, and can change their color to blend in with their current flower species. This spider does not use a web to capture its prey, but does produce webbing as a safety line, and also for creating egg sacs. |
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Family: Thomisidae Genus: Misumena Species: vatia Females: 0.35 in.
Males: 0.12 in. Lifespan: 1 year |
Adaptation
The front two pairs of legs are stronger and longer than the back two. To capture prey, the spider stands on the back legs and spreads its welcoming arms wide for the unsuspecting prey.
The remarkable color change by these spiders is caused by the secretion of a yellow liquid pigment into the outer layer of the body. To change from white to yellow, the spider must first produce the pigment and then secrete it, a process that can take 10 to 25 days. The reverse process is much faster, about 6 days, because the spider can simply excrete the yellow pigment. These spiders use visual cues to determine their color, and become the color that matches the plant they spend more time on.
The male goldenrod crab spider is much smaller, and spends much of its time roaming from flower to flower in search of females. This perilous journey is often fraught with predators, and males are frequently seen missing a few legs. After mating, the females will guard their egg cases (usually folded into the edge of a leaf). The young can reach up to 0.2 inches by autumn, and they spend the flower-less winter on the ground.
The front two pairs of legs are stronger and longer than the back two. To capture prey, the spider stands on the back legs and spreads its welcoming arms wide for the unsuspecting prey.
The remarkable color change by these spiders is caused by the secretion of a yellow liquid pigment into the outer layer of the body. To change from white to yellow, the spider must first produce the pigment and then secrete it, a process that can take 10 to 25 days. The reverse process is much faster, about 6 days, because the spider can simply excrete the yellow pigment. These spiders use visual cues to determine their color, and become the color that matches the plant they spend more time on.
The male goldenrod crab spider is much smaller, and spends much of its time roaming from flower to flower in search of females. This perilous journey is often fraught with predators, and males are frequently seen missing a few legs. After mating, the females will guard their egg cases (usually folded into the edge of a leaf). The young can reach up to 0.2 inches by autumn, and they spend the flower-less winter on the ground.
Niche
Goldenrod crab spiders select flowers that are attractive to flying insects. Younger spiders are not as discriminating in their flower choice, but older females are larger, and seek to conserve energy by being more selective with their hunting grounds. With their exceptional camouflage, they sit in wait, and attack prey that comes too close. Prey species include honey bees, golden northern bumble bees, eastern yellow jackets, clouded sulphurs, goldenrod gall flies, painted ladies, hummingbird moths, cabbage whites, differential grasshoppers, and bald-faced hornets.
Like most spiders, goldenrod crab spiders subdue their prey by making a small bite and injecting venom, followed by digestive enzymes that liquify the prey's innards. The spider then sucks out the liquid, leaving the exoskeleton relatively intact. These spiders feed primarily in the daytime, but have been known to take meals late into the night when it is warm.
These spiders are eaten by chinese mantids, rabid wolf spiders, daring jumping spiders, garden centipedes, carolina chickadees, southern leopard frogs, and downy woodpeckers.
Goldenrod crab spiders select flowers that are attractive to flying insects. Younger spiders are not as discriminating in their flower choice, but older females are larger, and seek to conserve energy by being more selective with their hunting grounds. With their exceptional camouflage, they sit in wait, and attack prey that comes too close. Prey species include honey bees, golden northern bumble bees, eastern yellow jackets, clouded sulphurs, goldenrod gall flies, painted ladies, hummingbird moths, cabbage whites, differential grasshoppers, and bald-faced hornets.
Like most spiders, goldenrod crab spiders subdue their prey by making a small bite and injecting venom, followed by digestive enzymes that liquify the prey's innards. The spider then sucks out the liquid, leaving the exoskeleton relatively intact. These spiders feed primarily in the daytime, but have been known to take meals late into the night when it is warm.
These spiders are eaten by chinese mantids, rabid wolf spiders, daring jumping spiders, garden centipedes, carolina chickadees, southern leopard frogs, and downy woodpeckers.
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