Xysticus is a genus of ground crab spiders described by C. L. Koch in 1835, belonging to the order Araneae, family Thomisidae. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek root xyst, meaning "scraped, scraper". Xysticus and Coriarachne are dark brown or reddish-brown crab spiders often encountered on weeds or trees.

Xysticus cristatus, the common crab spider, [2] is a European spider from the family Thomisidae. [1] The adults of Xysticus cristatus can reach a body length of about 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) in the female, of about 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) in the smaller male. [2] . The colour varies from light cream, dark brown to greyish.

Jan 1, 2024 · The brown crab spider is easily identified by its coin-shaped abdomen and dark brown to grayish color. Common in gardens with low-growing vegetation, the crab spider has a flat body and eight legs in a crab-like shape. It has white triangular patterns or mid-stripe on its head with a dark brown patch. Adult brown female crab spiders measure ...

Common crab spider (Xysticus cristatus) Web: Crab spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their elongated first and second legs to overpower their prey. They are sit and wait predators, often well camouflaged and laying in an ambush to surprise passing prey.

Oct 25, 2024 · The markings are mostly medium brown, orangish brown, or dark brown (dark). The plate (carapace) covering the front part of the body (cephalothorax) is slightly longer than wide. When viewed from above, it is smoothly rounded on the sides.

Common name: brown crab spider, tan crab spider. Tan crab spiders are members of the Thomisidae family and are more common in New Jersey in the United States. These spiders have the ability to walk in all directions with longer front legs, which they use to grab and hold their prey, which they ambush in flowers.

A dark brown crab spider, about 1/2 inch (12 mm) long. There are about 67 species in the genus Xysticus and many of them look very similar. However, the combination of the markings on the cephalothorax and the abdomen help to identify this spider to species.

Jan 1, 2024 · The parson spider is a dark brown, almost black spider, with white striped markings on its back. Identifying features of a parson spider are its reddish-brown and black legs, dark brown body, and star-like appearance. Parson spiders measure 0.4” to 0.8” (10 – 20 mm) long.

Favoring cooler northern climates but common in most of North America, the elegant crab spider is a dark brown color and is often found on trees and in the leaf litter on the forest floor. While it doesn’t make as much use of flowers as other crab spiders, it still has the distinctive long, forward-curving legs that make them appear so ...