The spider-crab (Thomisidae) looks like a crab. The first four legs extend to the sides and are longer than the last four. For the most part they are located outdoors. They do not web and hunt prey using their front legs. A crab spider can stay in the same place (a flower or a leaf) for days or even weeks waiting for its dinner to pass.
Steps
Step 1. Recognize a crab spider
There are some key features.
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Physical characteristics:
length between 4 and 10 mm.
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Poisonous for humans:
No
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Lives:
all over the world, especially in North America.
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Prey:
This spider has very strong front legs and uses them to catch prey. The spider then injects the venom and immobilizes its prey. Eat insects and bees.
Method 1 of 3: Identify a Spider-Crab
This spider resembles the water crab in both shape and movement. It can walk forward, sideways and even backwards.
Step 1. Look for the crab spider on flowers, bark, leaves and soil
He usually sits and lurks and doesn't weave a web.
Step 2. Look at the color of the spider
It can be of a wide range of colors ranging from pale yellow to white and green. It can change color to blend in with the background, so you need to observe a leaf or flower for a long time before spotting the spider.
Step 3. Look at the paws
The first 4 protrude from the sides and are usually a little longer than the other 4.
Step 4. Tease the spider to recognize it better
Touch it gently with a sprig, if it spreads its legs and moves sideways it is a spider-crab. (It has "legs" just like those of a water crab).
Method 2 of 3: Recognizing the Habitat of a Spider-Crab
The crab spider does not weave a web to catch its prey. Hunting thanks to camouflage and patiently waiting for dinner to approach.
Step 1. You are more likely to find a crab spider on:
- Flowers.
- Leaves.
- Rocks.
Method 3 of 3: Treat a Bite
The spider-crab is poisonous only to its prey.
Step 1. If a crab spider bites you, apply the basic principles of first aid for an insect bite
Some people who are allergic to poison may have more severe reactions up to skin infection.
Step 2. If you experience anything more than a little itching and swelling, go to the doctor
Advice
- A crab spider lives an average of two years and is prey to wasps.
- Crab spider females are not easy to spot because they blend in. Look for the crab-spider species called goldenrod by looking at a deep yellow flower; this color attracts the spider's prey: insects. This spider species can adapt its color to the background on which it is placed and takes 10-25 days to finish the process.
- It is very rare to find crab-spiders inside houses as they prefer to stay on flowers; you should check the flowers you are cutting before bringing them indoors.
- It is impossible to confuse the classic spider-crab with the Japanese one that lives only near the waters of Japan. The Japanese crab spider can have legs up to 3.8 meters long and weigh up to 19 kg.
