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Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757) Discussion

goldenrod crab spider

Comments on June 17, 2007 Observation

44.429745,-77.230156
Pamela Martin
44.4297, -77.2302
1    
Submitted: June 17, 2007 at 1:09:59 PM MST

Misumena vatia (Pamela Martin [June 17, 2007])

This one was spotted on the Rosa rugosa alba, a favourite of these spiders and of rose chafers (Macrodactylus subspinosus) as well. Why, I think that's a rose chafer she's sucking the life out of right now. Always a welcome sight--I need a lot more spiders on this rose.

The spider spent most of the morning in this blossom (she may still be there) and the bush was attracting a lot of large bumblebees. I was curious to know what would happen if one landed in her spot--finally one did. She gamely waved her forelegs in an apparent attempt to grab it. It ignored her--finished rolling in the flower's centre and flew off.


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Bev Wigney wrote on June 20, 2007 at 4:10:53 AM MST

Great observations, Pamela.  It might be interesting to watch for this spider in the next while as my guess is that she'll stay in the immediate area where you saw her, and perhaps make her egg case there inside a folded rose leaf.  I found a young spider (reported a few days ago) on June 11, and yesterday I found that she is still on the same rose bush just a few inches away on one of the new blooms.  Rugosa rose bushes appear to provide terrific hunting territory for these spiders.  Interesting that the bumblebee just ignored the spider.Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen one of these spiders capture a really large bumblebee.  I have seen them capture bumblebee mimic flies though, so they aren't being fooled by the disguise!