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Thomisus onustus
Little crab spider, female, 1 cm in size, ambush hunting under the flower of Orchid mascula. This species shows an extreme sexual dimorphism both in size and coloration, also in comparison with othe crab spiders. The adult males reach a body length of only 2–4 millimetres, while females are 7–10 millimetres long. This species is characterized by the prominent rear corners of the opisthosoma. In males the basic colour of the prosoma varies from yellow brown to dark brown, the opisthosoma may be yellow and green or brown. Also females are very variable in colour, their basic colour can be white, yellow or pink. As a matter of fact these crab-spiders hide themselves adapting the colour of their body to the colour of the flowers on which they are waiting for preys, a behaviour that conceal them from predators and from the pollinating preys.
Small prairie in a dispersed Holm oak forest
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec. f/32; ISO Speed Rating: 400. Focal Length: 90.0 mm. Flash fired
Spotted on Apr 18, 2013
Submitted on May 15, 2013
1 Comment
Finally identified as Thomisus onustus