Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2165951
Goldenrod Crab Spider
Misumena vatiaAlso known as Flower Crab Spider, Flower Spider, Goldenrod Spider
Goldenrod crab spiders are master ambush predators of flower heads, sitting motionless with front legs wide open to snatch visiting pollinators. Females possess a rare ability among arachnids to reversibly alter their body color between bright yellow, white, and pale pink over several days to match their blossom perch. Relying on acute vision rather than webs, these patient hunters can overpower bees and butterflies twice their own size before delivering a swift, paralyzing venom.
CamouflagedAmbush HunterColor-Changing
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Honeybees
- Butterflies
- Hoverflies
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Mud dauber wasps
ThreatsPesticide use and habitat loss
HabitatsMeadows, fields, gardens, and shrublands
Life span1–2 years
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyThomisidae
- GenusMisumena
- SpeciesMisumena vatia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Search sunny flower heads like goldenrod, milkweed, and daisies in mid-summer.
- Handling: Allow the spider to walk onto a leaf gently without pinching.
- Observation: Watch for color shifts over several days when moved to a new blossom.
Web-Building Neighbor (c) hedera.baltica, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Frequent Prey Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.