Goldenrod Crab Spider

Description:

Size: The male Crab Spider is 1/8 inch long, and the female is 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch long. Coloring/Description: Usually white with red stripes on the sides of the abdomen, this spider can change its color to yellow. This ability to change colors gives it a unique camouflaging ability. (Info from: http://www.spiderroom.info/va_crabspider...)

Habitat:

Crab Spiders live throughout North America and southern Canada. Its favorite habitat would be on flower blossoms, particularly those yellow or white in color, like daisies or goldenrod flowers. Goldenrod Spiders prey upon insects that land on flowers such as bees, wasps, butterflies and moths. Their camouflage ability allows this spider to blend with the yellow color of flowers and remain unseen by their prey. While these spiders are considered to be hunters, they most often wait for their prey to come to them and then bite and capture their food! (Info from: http://www.spiderroom.info/va_crabspider...)

Notes:

This summer was the first time I ever noticed this unique spider, but I ended up seeing a lot of them. I even went to take a picture of a lady slipper once, and found one sitting inside! (Last Picture) The thing that first got me to notice them was how they hold the front two legs on either side together and extend them outward (giving them the crab-like appearance that their name suggests). They are a very neat little spider and I'm glad to have finally found out what they are!