Goldenrod crab spider in Ireland?

[goldenrod]

Hello,
Could someone verify if a goldenrod crab spider is normally found in Ireland.
I have found one on a piece of furniture I purchased which is probably originally from Thailand, or somewhere in that vincinity. I am wondering if this guy (he is really bright bright yellow) may have been imported and hatched over here, as I have no yellow flowers or plants nearby.

Thanks for your help.

[Jason Green]

Welcome to WAB, G!

See:

1. Misumena vatia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2. Species Misumena vatia - Goldenrod Crab Spider - BugGuide.Net

From what I've read about them, they don't need yellow flowers even if that's the colour it was when you found it. They change depending on the flower colour; I.e- when white they secrete a yellow pigment into the outer layers of skin to camouflage and is known as the Goldenrod in North America.

[goldenrod]

Thanks,
I actually skimmed over Wikipedia in a hurry, and missed the first line about them being holarctic, so thanks.
Anyway he/she has trotted off into my clothes drawer now, maybe looking for something yellow in there. It is quite a beautiful spider. I have only seen more subtle coloured spiders over here (I am not from Ireland), so I wondered about it. Seemed a little odd to be hanging out on a very dark wooden background in its bright yellow glory. I would have thought they would want to blend in. Must be a bit of an extrovert, this one.
Thanks again.:

[elgier]

Not sure about Ireland but I have just found what seems to be one on the South Coast of England. It's on a plant I bought recently. The flowers are deep purple so the yellow spider looks pretty cool