White Crab Spider - Thomisus spectabilis
FAMILY THOMISIDAE
This page contains pictures and information about White Crab Spiders that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Leg to leg 30mm
- White Crab Spider also known as White Flower Spider. This species of Flower Spiders are a little larger than the Diaea species. The spiders also hide in the flower plants and their abdomen just look like the flower buds. At day time they rest in their retreats made by the leafs and their silk. At night they sit beside the flower and wait for the visitors, such as the small moths.
- They attack their prey by their front two pairs of legs. The spiders make egg sac on leaves. Notice in the first picture the eight eyes in two rows of four on the spider's head.
- This spider is also common in Brisbane gardens, backyards and bushes.
-
- Moths and butterflies are the common visitors of flowers. Small moths and skipper butterflies are the spiders' favourite prey.
-
- Females build egg-sac on curved leaf. They will guard the eggs and the juveniles.
-
- They like to rest on the top of small plant waiting for prey. Small flying insects may think they are the white flower and landed on their jaws.
- Reference:
- 1. A Guide to Australian Spiders - Densey Clyne, Melbourne, Nelson 1969, p59.
- 2. Wildlife of Greater Brisbane - Queensland Museum 1995, p28.
- 3. Flower Spider - The Find-a-spider Guide for Australian Spiders, University of Southern Queensland, 2007.
- 4. Spiders of Australia: An Introduction to Their Classification, Biology & Distribution - Hawkeswood T, Pensoft Pub, 2003, p108.
- 5. Australian Spiders in colour - Ramon Mascord, Reed Books Pty Ltd, 1970, p48
