Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757)

goldenrod crab spider

Jul 2, 2007

Jean Leclerc
46.2285, -72.3451
6 4 6
Added: Jul 5, 2007 at 10:17:08 AM MST

Took a 3h. walk through a wood lot. Observed 16 specimens in all. Most standing on daisies along trails. Some eating prey. The immatures looked to be females to me. One of the mature females was observed guarding eggsac under a milkweed leaf.

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Jun 30, 2007

Bev Wigney
45.1465, -75.6088
1 5
Added: Jun 30, 2007 at 6:38:03 AM MST

This is a report of sightings from two days. On June 29th, I found my first sighting of a female guarding an egg case at the farm this summer. She was wrapped over an egg case chamber formed from a bent milkweed leaf that had been sealed shut. Of interest was that this female had and extra pair of pink lines in addition to the usual pink bands on the abdomen. This spider was found in an oldfield meadow in one of the more open pastures here at the farm. Photos (2): Spider on egg case: http://www.pbase.com/image/81399959
Spider close-up: http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/81399958
Second group of sightings are from June 22nd. I found a male and 4 juvenile female spiders within an area of about 5 meters along a walking trail at the edge of our woodlot. All were found atop daisies. The male and one of the females had each captured a fly. Of interest -- I checked some of the daisies out in the open field and did not find any spiders in that location. I did find some young Phymata (Ambush bugs). Perhaps the daisies in the open field attract predators that would seize the young spiders, so they do better on plants within the edge of the woodlot. Photos (5): Male with prey: http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/81399952 Females: http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/81399953
http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/81399954
http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/81399955
http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/81399956
(edited by admin Jun 30, 2007 at 9:05:52 AM MST)

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Jun 29, 2007

Pamela Martin
44.4297, -77.2302
3
Added: Jun 29, 2007 at 6:52:29 AM MST

I found three more of these spiders in the garden just outside the front door yesterday. Two were in shasta daisies, one in lady's mantle. Lady's mantle flowers are greenish, small and non-descript, but this is the second flower crab spider I've found in them. I didn't report the first because of the possiblity that it is the same spider as one already reported. I think they are all female based on their colour--but since two are very small if males develop their dark legs later in life then I don't know the sex of the two smallest.
I'm uploading an image of the largest of the three.
I should note as well that I am quite sure that all the spiders I've reported here are different individuals, and all reported so far have been found in my front yard.

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Jun 27, 2007

Jean Leclerc
46.7985, -72.603
1
Added: Jun 27, 2007 at 7:08:16 PM MST

Saw one mature female standing on a daisy eating a fly.

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Jun 22, 2007

Pamela Martin
44.4297, -77.2302
1
Added: Jun 22, 2007 at 5:25:07 PM MST

This spider was found on the same Rosa rugosa as the last one I submitted (which is also still there, and looking very full of eggs (or rose chafers)). I was struck by how orange the markings appeared instead of the usual rose or pink.

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Jun 19, 2007

Jean Leclerc
46.2293, -72.3421
2
Added: Jun 20, 2007 at 7:38:16 AM MST

Observed 2 immature specimens both possibly females. One was found on a daisy holding a prey that looked to be a rove beetle (Staphylinidae). The second spider was found on the hood of my car while I was on the highway driving back to my place. It made the 20 km ride safely clinging to a thread! A good illustration of spider silk strength!

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Jun 17, 2007

Pamela Martin
44.4297, -77.2302
1
Added: Jun 17, 2007 at 1:09:59 PM MST

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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Jun 15, 2007

larry hyder
48.593, -89.3079
1
Added: Jun 26, 2007 at 2:06:09 PM MST

I SAW THIS SPIDER(FEMALE GOLDENROD CRAB SPIDER)ENJOYING A BIG MEAL IN A WILD ROSE BUSH NORTH EAST OF THUNDERBAY ON.I WAS BLESSED TO RUN INTO HER AGAIN ON JUNE 21 2007 ,SHE WAS IN THE SAME ROSE BUSH BUT IT HAD TAKEN QUITE A POUNDING FROM A SEVERE STORM THE NIGHT BEFOREAND HER PETAL COVER WAS LIMITED.
I WAS HAPPY TO OBSERVE MANY NEW BLOSSUMS WERE COMING OUT.I BELIEVE HER JOURNEY TO A NEW HOME WILL BE SHORT AND SAFE.

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Jun 13, 2007

Fred S. McDonald
44.4307, -83.4301
1
Added: Jul 6, 2007 at 9:38:18 AM MST

Male seen along the north bank of the AuSable River on Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus). Nearest community is Footesite, MI.

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Jun 12, 2007

Bev Wigney
45.1465, -75.6088
1 1
Added: Jun 15, 2007 at 6:16:49 AM MST

A male and an immature female were found on the Blanc Double de Coubert rose bush in this rural garden on the afternoon of June 11, 2007. It would appear that they arrived just in sync with the first blooms on the bushes. The female was seen with its prey - a solitary bee of some kind. Reference photos (2) at: http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/80554291 http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/80554292
(edited by admin Jun 15, 2007 at 8:55:41 AM MST)

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Jun 7, 2007

Bev Wigney
45.1456, -75.6088
1 1
Added: Jun 7, 2007 at 11:28:59 AM MST

Report on two Misumena vatia seen during the past week. First is of a good-sized female spider - bright yellow in colour - found atop the flower head of a soggy, expired dandelion. Date & Time: June 4, 2007 at 10:40 hrs., during a sunny break between morning showers. At first, it seemed that she must be overly optimistic, but she did appear very much like the last bits of yellow in a dandelion flower that is going to seed, so perhaps the flower was not such a poor choice. As there were few other flowers in bloom anywhere else in the field, perhaps she might attract an unwary visitor. Reference photo: http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/80037538

Second report is of a male spider found on one of the Common Milkweed plants in part of the garden reserved for Monarch butterflies. Date & Time: June 6, 2007 at 12:50 hrs. When I first approached the spider to attempt to shoot a photo, he moved to the other side of the plant stalk. I slowly moved around the stalk, watching the spider. He managed to keep the stalk between us as I encircled the plant twice. I stopped and tried tricking him by putting my hand on the opposite side of the plant where he was hiding. That encouraged him to move to a section of plant where I could shoot a few photos, one of which is posted here. The following is a link to a larger view of the same image: http://www.pbase.com/image/80139180
(edited by admin Jun 7, 2007 at 1:17:36 PM MST)

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Jun 3, 2007

Pamela Martin
44.4297, -77.2302
1
Added: Jun 11, 2007 at 7:08:42 AM MST

The spider was found on an Eastern Wahoo that was very heavily infested with Yponomeuta cagnagella (Euonymus Caterpillar).
She was apparently attempting to eat a caterpillar or two, but seemed not to find them to her liking. The caterpillar is the larva of a European moth, the spindle ermine moth, a specialist of the spindle bush, a European euonymus, that has taken to the native euonymus, the eastern wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus).

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