Orb Weavers and Crab Spiders...

Dannica · #1 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 02:40 PM

This will sound silly to most of you, I'm sure,
but can I just double check that
Orb Weavers and Crab Spiders
are definitely, absolutely NOT the same thing?

I think I keep confusing the two.
If I've got enough of one or the other then I can
use them in my assignment, but if not then
I think I'll go for Wolf Spiders.

Not sure I'll be able to find adequate ID info in the time I have left.
I also have to cover the history of the taxonomy of the species.
D

RobAtkinson1 · #2 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 03:18 PM

I can assure you that orb weavers and crab spiders are not the same thing. Orb weavers are called that because of the shape of their webs. Crab spiders do not make webs and are ambush hunters.

Dannica · #3 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 03:25 PM

Aha, I knew it! (well, sort of.)

Hence crab spiders sitting on flower heads with their 'arms' held out ready to give their prey a nice big cuddle.

Now need to find some very strong diagnostic points so I can work out exactly what I've got. I know i have one cucumber green, one white crab spider, and the Misumena vatia male I found yesterday. I'll need three more crab spider species, plus specimens in that case. Oh dear :' (

And using cab spiders would be brilliant as their colouring tends to be so helpful in IDing them.

Meta menardi · #4 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 04:38 PM

If you are looking for spider taxonomy, try this

The World Spider Catalog, V11.5 by N. I. Platnick © 2000 — 2011 AMNH

Dannica · #5 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 05:43 PM

ooOOoo, thank you

...

Geoff F · #6 (**permalink**) 19-04-2011, 08:49 PM

Crab spiders are, I'm afraid, rather difficult to identify to actual species. Although just working with basic families is a lot easier.

For example; Misumena vatia is the straight forward one.

There are several species of Xysticus but they are difficult to separate although most appear with general family traits.

The same applies to Philodromus (sometimes called a Running Crab Spider due to their longer legs).

But apart from these three groupings which are fairly common, you may find it difficult to actually find any of the others, although the Ozyptila are possible. But they do superficially resemble the Xysticus.

'Wolf' spiders (Lycosidae) are just as difficult.

Would 'ground hunting' (no webs) be suitable as a general rule? In that case you could also include Pisaura mirabilis, another easy one. Also the Jumping Spiders.