Arachnid
Multicolored Bark Crab Spider
Bassaniana versicolorAlso known as Bark Crab Spider, Varied Bark Crab Spider
Multicolored bark crab spiders possess remarkably mottled grey, brown, and white patterns that render them virtually invisible against weathered tree trunks. Rather than spinning capture webs, these flattened ambush predators wait motionless in bark fissures until small insects wander within reach of their outstretched front legs. During the breeding season, males carefully approach and tap larger females with specialized signaling motions to avoid being consumed as prey.
CamouflageArborealPredator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyBark beetles, Flies, Ants
Predators
- Bark-foraging birds
- Spider wasps
- Larger hunting spiders
ThreatsHabitat loss, intense forest fires, and widespread insecticide application
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed forests, woodlands, tree trunks, and woody shrubs
Life spanApproximately 1 year
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyThomisidae
- GenusBassaniana
- SpeciesBassaniana versicolor
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans; safe to observe closely as it rests camouflaged on tree bark.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Scan rough-barked trees like mature oaks or pines on warm afternoons.
- Approach: Move in slowly without casting a direct shadow, which triggers them to scuttle into deep crevices.
Predator (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Wolfgang Jauch, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Wolfgang Jauch · cc-by
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