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Description of Misumena vatia (Goldenrod crab spider)
Physical Characteristics
Female 7 to 11.5 mm. Highly variable in colour and pattern.
The spider can adjust its colour to the colour of its surroundings. This change will take several days to complete and is driven by the vision.
Abdomen highly variable in colour and pattern. The colour is often adapted to the environment and can be white, yellow, green, or an intermediate shade of these colours. Sometimes two dark longitudinal bands or two bright red stripes are present.
Carapace highly variable in colour and pattern. The colour is just like the abdomen often adapted to the environment and is about the same as the abdomen. Sometimes two dark longitudinal bands are present. The eyes are sometimes surrounded by a yellow to red colour.
Legs and palps the same colour as the carapace. Sometimes with dark ends.
Male 3 to 5 mm. Variable in colour and pattern.
Abdomen yellowish or whitish with not always clear dark brown longitudinal stripes.
Carapace whitish or pale green with two broad dark bands or dark brown with a light median band. The eyes are sometimes surrounded by a yellow to red colour.
Legs whitish or pale green with dark brown annulations at the ends of the first two pairs of legs or almost black with light brown annulations on the first two pairs of legs.
Palps light-dark annulated with dark tips.
Habitat
Mainly on flowers in sunny, dry places.
Distribution
Common in the whole of Europe.
Period
Summer.