Genus Misumenops
Misumenops is a spider genus of the family Thomisidae (Crab Spiders). It contains only one species.
AW Arachnid Book: Spiders (Araneae) - Photos & Descriptions
Moderator: Klipspringer
AW Arachnid Book: Spiders (Araneae) - Photos & Descriptions
Red Back Crab Spider Misumenops rubrodecoratus
Family: Thomisidae. Subfamily: Misumeninae
Garden in Johannesburg
Hartebeespoort, Northwest Province.
Description
Body and legs yellowish with a greenish tint. Carpace uasually darker than abdomen. Eye area white. Anterior part of the abdomen with a broad horseshoe-shaped band. Legas sometimes banded.
Distribution
This species is widespread in South Africa and Africa.
Habitat
On grass, shrubs, trees, flowers.
Links:
https://books.google.de/books?id=RKs_Dw ... ca&f=false
Family: Thomisidae. Subfamily: Misumeninae
Garden in Johannesburg
Hartebeespoort, Northwest Province.
Description
Body and legs yellowish with a greenish tint. Carpace uasually darker than abdomen. Eye area white. Anterior part of the abdomen with a broad horseshoe-shaped band. Legas sometimes banded.
Distribution
This species is widespread in South Africa and Africa.
Habitat
On grass, shrubs, trees, flowers.
Links:
https://books.google.de/books?id=RKs_Dw ... ca&f=false
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Thomisidae, Genus Oxytate
Genus Oxytate
Oxytate, previously known as Dieta, is long and slender and colouration varies from pale cream to translucent green sometimes freckled with lighter spots. The female's shape and colour afford effective camouflage among grasses and stems. Oxytate rests on grass with anterior legs outstretched forward and hind legs next to the body holding on.
The genus Oxycate comprises a group of mainly nocturnal crab spiders. During the night they stalk for prey, anging onto the under side of leaves. When the spider senses the vibration on the upper side of the leaf, it quickly pounces on the victim.
They have silk apparatuses even though they do not spin webs to trap prey. They have strong bodies and robust front legs. They have 8 eyes in 2 rows.
In South Africa, there are four species recorded: Oxytate argenteooculata, Oxytate concolor, Oxytate phaenopomatiformis and Oxytate ribes.
Oxytate, previously known as Dieta, is long and slender and colouration varies from pale cream to translucent green sometimes freckled with lighter spots. The female's shape and colour afford effective camouflage among grasses and stems. Oxytate rests on grass with anterior legs outstretched forward and hind legs next to the body holding on.
The genus Oxycate comprises a group of mainly nocturnal crab spiders. During the night they stalk for prey, anging onto the under side of leaves. When the spider senses the vibration on the upper side of the leaf, it quickly pounces on the victim.
They have silk apparatuses even though they do not spin webs to trap prey. They have strong bodies and robust front legs. They have 8 eyes in 2 rows.
In South Africa, there are four species recorded: Oxytate argenteooculata, Oxytate concolor, Oxytate phaenopomatiformis and Oxytate ribes.
AW Arachnid Book: Spiders (Araneae) - Photos & Descriptions
Grass Crab Spider, Green Crab Spider Oxytate argenteooculata
Family Thomisidae.
© BluTuna
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
© BluTuna
This one looks like it has had a bit of a rough time as it only has 3 legs left!
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
Distribution
Oxytate argenteooculata has a wide distribution in the Afrotropical Region and is known from East, Central and southern Africa. Distribution in South Africa: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Western Cape.
Habitat
It is commonly found on plants, including commercial crops.
Family Thomisidae.
© BluTuna © BluTuna Garden in Johannesburg
© BluTunaThis one looks like it has had a bit of a rough time as it only has 3 legs left!
© BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
Distribution
Oxytate argenteooculata has a wide distribution in the Afrotropical Region and is known from East, Central and southern Africa. Distribution in South Africa: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Western Cape.
Habitat
It is commonly found on plants, including commercial crops.
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Thomisidae, Genus Synema
Genus Synema
Synema has a green to brown prosoma (cephalothorax - anterior body segment including legs) and cream round to oval abdomen adorned with what looks like a brown skull. This colouration affords a good camouflage in vegetation. Synema is more active in its prey capture as it hides amongst the vegetation and dashes out to surprise an unsuspecting insect.
The genus Synema contains: Synema buettneri, Synema decens, Synema diana, Synema imitator, Synema langheldi, Synema mandibulare, Synema marlothi, Synema nigrotibiale, Synema riflense, Synema simoneae, Synema vallotoni
Synema has a green to brown prosoma (cephalothorax - anterior body segment including legs) and cream round to oval abdomen adorned with what looks like a brown skull. This colouration affords a good camouflage in vegetation. Synema is more active in its prey capture as it hides amongst the vegetation and dashes out to surprise an unsuspecting insect.
The genus Synema contains: Synema buettneri, Synema decens, Synema diana, Synema imitator, Synema langheldi, Synema mandibulare, Synema marlothi, Synema nigrotibiale, Synema riflense, Synema simoneae, Synema vallotoni
AW Arachnid Book: Spiders (Araneae) - Photos & Descriptions
African Mask Crab Spider Synema sp.
Family Thomisidae
Spot the spider. This Daisy flower is around 3 cm in diameter.
Here it is, a bit closer!
Family Thomisidae
Spot the spider. This Daisy flower is around 3 cm in diameter.
Here it is, a bit closer!
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
Thomisidae, Genus Thomisus
Genus Thomisius
Thomisus is a genus in the Thomisidae includes members suchas the flower crab spider, a short and squat spider, ranging in size from 3-11 mm. Its body (exoskeleton) is cryptically coloured, taking on the colour of its surroundings. they The flower crab spiders are ambush predators that feed on insects visiting flowers.
15 species. The abdomen is triangular in shape, being widest posteriorly. The lateral eyes are situated on tubercles.
In most species females are four to ten mm long, with males two to seven mm. Many are brightly colored, usually matching the color of the flower in which they are waiting in ambush. Not all species are flower-dwelling, but among those that are, at least some species can change their colour over a period of some days to match the flower colour.
Thomisus stenningi in the Western Cape is able to undergo white to yellow colour changes. This colour change facilitates camouflage on flower ambush sites and is completed within 2 days. Other species turn pink and appear to remain this colour. While colour patterns are species specific, colours can vary. The first and second pairs of legs are noticeably longer and thicker than the last 2 pairs. The abdomen is triangular in shape, being widest posteriorally. Its lateral eyes are situated on projections.
Spiders in this genus are sedentary and are usually noticed only when one sees a strangely positioned, usually upside down, insect and upon investigation, the insect can be seen to be in the grips of a spider. The spider waits for flying insects to settle, patient and motionless, with outstretched legs. She can detect them from 20 mm and when within a range of 5-10 mm, she closes her powerful front legs, catching the insect which can be up to 3 times her size. The insect is then bitten behind the head and killed.
Thomisus is a genus in the Thomisidae includes members suchas the flower crab spider, a short and squat spider, ranging in size from 3-11 mm. Its body (exoskeleton) is cryptically coloured, taking on the colour of its surroundings. they The flower crab spiders are ambush predators that feed on insects visiting flowers.
15 species. The abdomen is triangular in shape, being widest posteriorly. The lateral eyes are situated on tubercles.
In most species females are four to ten mm long, with males two to seven mm. Many are brightly colored, usually matching the color of the flower in which they are waiting in ambush. Not all species are flower-dwelling, but among those that are, at least some species can change their colour over a period of some days to match the flower colour.
Thomisus stenningi in the Western Cape is able to undergo white to yellow colour changes. This colour change facilitates camouflage on flower ambush sites and is completed within 2 days. Other species turn pink and appear to remain this colour. While colour patterns are species specific, colours can vary. The first and second pairs of legs are noticeably longer and thicker than the last 2 pairs. The abdomen is triangular in shape, being widest posteriorally. Its lateral eyes are situated on projections.
Spiders in this genus are sedentary and are usually noticed only when one sees a strangely positioned, usually upside down, insect and upon investigation, the insect can be seen to be in the grips of a spider. The spider waits for flying insects to settle, patient and motionless, with outstretched legs. She can detect them from 20 mm and when within a range of 5-10 mm, she closes her powerful front legs, catching the insect which can be up to 3 times her size. The insect is then bitten behind the head and killed.
AW Arachnid Book: Spiders (Araneae) - Photos & Descriptions
Flower Crab Spider Thomisus daradiodides
Family: Thomisidae. Tribe: Misumenini
© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg
© BluTuna
I went away for a minute to get my extension tubes and when I returned it had caught a Sweat Bee
© BluTuna
Female
Family: Thomisidae. Tribe: Misumenini
© BluTunaGarden in Johannesburg
© BluTunaI went away for a minute to get my extension tubes and when I returned it had caught a Sweat Bee
© BluTunaFemale
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
AW Arachnid Book: Spiders (Araneae) - Photos & Descriptions
Flower Crab Spider Thomisus scrupeus
Family Thomisidae
Garden in Johannesburg.
Description
Body varies from off-white to dark brown. Abdomen is bell shaped. The eyes are situated on disctinct tubercles.
Distribution
This species is widespread, found in Limpopo, Gauteng and along the KZN and Eastern Cape coasts.
Habitat
Plant dwellers.
Garden in Johannesburg
Family Thomisidae
Garden in Johannesburg.
Description
Body varies from off-white to dark brown. Abdomen is bell shaped. The eyes are situated on disctinct tubercles.
Distribution
This species is widespread, found in Limpopo, Gauteng and along the KZN and Eastern Cape coasts.
Habitat
Plant dwellers.
Garden in Johannesburg
Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
AW Arachnid Book: Spiders (Araneae) - Photos & Descriptions
Flower Crab Spider Thomisus stenningi
Family Thomisidae
© Michele Nel
Kirstenbosch, Western Cape
Description
Thomisus stenningi can change colour. Body colur is usually white or yellow. Sometimes two brown bands on the carpace. Tubercles on abdomen sometimes with black spot. Carapace as wide as long, cephalic region raised. Eye tubercles not sharply pointed. Both eyes rows recurved. Abdomen wider than long with two blunt tubercles. Legs dorsally with a few long setae.
Distribution
Throughout Africa and widespread in South Africa.
Habitat
Plant dwellers.
Family Thomisidae
© Michele NelKirstenbosch, Western Cape
Description
Thomisus stenningi can change colour. Body colur is usually white or yellow. Sometimes two brown bands on the carpace. Tubercles on abdomen sometimes with black spot. Carapace as wide as long, cephalic region raised. Eye tubercles not sharply pointed. Both eyes rows recurved. Abdomen wider than long with two blunt tubercles. Legs dorsally with a few long setae.
Distribution
Throughout Africa and widespread in South Africa.
Habitat
Plant dwellers.