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Crab Spider

Thomisus sp.

Description:

Crab spider with its prey. Crab spider is a common name applied loosely to many species of spiders, but most nearly consistently to members of the family Thomisidae. Among the Thomisidae it refers most often to the familiar species of "flower crab spiders", though not all members of the family are limited to ambush hunting in flowers. Rationalisation for the name crab spider is generally subjective and anecdotal. It is commonly said to refer to a fancied resemblance to crabs, or to the way such spiders hold their two front pairs of legs, or their ability to scuttle sideways or backwards. Some spiders so called have bodies that are flattened and angular. None of the crab spiders mentioned build webs to trap prey, though all of them produce silk for drop lines and sundry reproductive purposes; some are wandering hunters and the most widely known are ambush predators. Some species sit on or beside flowers or fruit, where they grab visiting insects.

Habitat:

On our rose bush. My earlier spotting http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/833... was found on the flower of the same plant. It was clicked inside the house whereas this one was on the plant.

Notes:

The last pic shows the exact position where this spider was found.

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Wild Things
Spotted by
Wild Things

Maharashtra, India

Spotted on Apr 28, 2012
Submitted on Apr 28, 2012

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