Crab spider, araña cangrejo

Description:

Crab spider ambush a fly. This is my spotting #1000 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.

Habitat:

Small prairie in a dispersed Holm oak and pine tree forest

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/320 sec. f/9; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. Flash fired