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Description of Thomisus onustus (Heather spider)
Physical Characteristics
Female 7 to 10 mm. Zeer variabel van kleur.
Abdomen Highly variable in colour.
Abdomen strikingly angular and very variable in colour. The colour is often adapted to the environment of the spin and can be pink, yellow or white with a faint pattern in a different colour.
Carapace the same colour as the abdomen with two darker bands along the sides. The outer eyes are on conspicuously, pointy bulges.
Legs at the tips light-dark annulated in the same colours as the carapace.
Palps same colour as the rest of the body.
Male 2 to 4 mm.
Abdomen yellow-brown to orange-brown with a faint lighter drawing.
Carapace yellow-brown to dark brown, sometimes with a clear light median band.
Legs yellow-brown to orange-brown. Lower limbs of first two pairs of legs distinctly darker and annulated.
Palps yellow-brown to dark brown.
Habitat
Mainly on flowers in sunny, open places.
Distribution
Occurs in almost the whole of Europe, most commonly in the Mediterranean area.
Period
Summer.