Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757)

goldenrod crab spider

• May 29, 2007

  
  Bev Wigney
  45.1887, -75.8357
  
  Added: May 29, 2007 at 8:53:09 PM MST

  

  One female Misumena vatia found at Richmond Conservation Area -- a conservation area located on the site of sewage lagoons decommissioned in the late 1980s.  Habitat:  meadows and succession forest.  Spider was found by students on a field outing nature walk.  The conservation area is located on the edge of the town of Richmond, Ontario (45.18868,  -75.8357).  Found on the morning of May 28, 2007.  It was quite small, but did have dull red lateral markings on the abdomen.  It is pictured on the top edge of a standard 500 ml. water bottle.

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• May 15, 2007

  
  Bev Wigney
  45.1465, -75.6088
  3    
  Added: May 17, 2007 at 3:34:35 PM MST

  Several juvenile spiders found on dandelion and salix flowers. They may well be Misumena vatia, although they are not showing lateral pink markings on the abdomen (perhaps these are absent on juvenile spiders? -- EDIT:  See notes below -- in fact, young spiders do not usually have the bright red markings seen on adults). The young spider found on the salix had captured a very tiny diptera of some kind. I've uploaded its photo, and am providing the following links to the other young spiders in case anyone wants to take a look at them and comment on whether all of these look to be M. vatia, or if they might be one of the other closely related species. http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/78841226, http://www.pbase.com/image/78841239
  (edited by admin May 17, 2007 at 7:14:25 AM MST)

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• May 7, 2007

  
  Jimmy Sherwood
  44.6452, -84.1333
  1    
  Added: May 7, 2007 at 7:52:01 PM MST

  Found this female feeding on a bee in my garden. There were plenty of bees to feed on.

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• Jul 6, 2006

  
  Bev Wigney
  45.1465, -75.6088
  1    
  Added: Mar 5, 2007 at 10:02:09 AM MST

  Sighting Report:  --  Location:   City of Ottawa (formerly Osgoode Township), Carleton County, Ontario, Canada., Coordinates:  Osgoode  45.14651, -75.60883., Date & Time: July 6, 2006 (and a few days after),  Habitat:  Rural farm garden., Predominant vegetation:  Rugosa roses, perennial flowers, lilac.,  Details:  Large white-pigmented female spider seen on rugosa flowers.  When noticed, it was in a hunting pose, but would move beneath the flower petals if disturbed. Observed in this location for several days.  General vicinity of UTM: 18 T 0453830, 5003416 (WGS84)., Reference Photographs:  (1 photo): http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/73549231
  (edited by admin Apr 5, 2007 at 12:59:24 AM MST)

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• Jun 16, 2006

  
  Bev Wigney
  45.1465, -75.6088
  1    
  Added: Mar 5, 2007 at 10:04:33 AM MST

  Sighting Report:  --  Location:   City of Ottawa (formerly Osgoode Township), Carleton County, Ontario, Canada., Coordinates:  Osgoode  45.14651,  -75.60883., Date & Time: June 16, 2006;  11:30 hours., Habitat:  Forest edge between oldfield meadows and poplar grove., Predominant vegetation:  Poplar, Meadowsweet, Salix, Solidago, Clover, Common Milkweed.,  Details:  Large yellow-hued spider found on an isolated red clover bloom at the forest edge.  Seen at 11:30 hours.  Not seen anywhere in vicinity at 14:30 hours.  Presume it didn't find the hunting to be good and moved on.  General vicinity of UTM 18T 0453821, 5003433 (WGS84)., Reference Photograph:  (1) photo posted at:   http://www.pbase.com/image/61963582
  (edited by admin Apr 5, 2007 at 12:55:50 AM MST)

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• Jun 21, 2005

  
  Bev Wigney
  45.1465, -75.6088
  1    
  Added: Mar 5, 2007 at 9:59:46 AM MST

  Sighting Report:  --  Location:   City of Ottawa (formerly Osgoode Township), Carleton County, Ontario, Canada., Coordinates:  Osgoode  45.14651,  -75.60883., Date & Time: June 21, 2005 (and a few days after);  Habitat:  Rural yard, Predominant vegetation:  grasses, alfalfa, deciduous trees.,  Details:  A  very large white-pigmented female spider - perhaps the largest of this species I've yet seen - found in center leaf cluster at the apex of a meter tall Red Oak sapling.  When noticed, it appeared to be in a hunting pose, although, after examining the photos somewhat belatedly, I noticed strands of webbing going beneath a nearby leaf, leading me to wonder if the spider was actually engaged in guarding behaviour of an egg case.  The spider was observed at this location for several days.    General vicinity of UTM: 18 T 0453830, 5003416 (WGS84)., Reference Photographs:  (1 photo) - http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/50974515
  (edited by admin Apr 5, 2007 at 12:59:56 AM MST)

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• Sep 17, 2003

  
  Bev Wigney
  45.1465, -75.6088
  1    
  Added: Mar 5, 2007 at 10:03:43 AM MST

  Sighting Report:  --  Location:   City of Ottawa (formerly Osgoode Township), Carleton County, Ontario, Canada., Coordinates:  Osgoode  45.14651,  -75.60883., Date & Time: most of September  2003;  Habitat:  Rural farm garden., Predominant vegetation:  Rugosa roses, perennial flowers, lilac.,  Details:  In early September 2003, a large, yellow-pigmented spider was noticed guarding an eggcase inside a folded and sealed rugosa rose leaf.  It was photogaphed on Sept 17 after it had been on the leaf for a couple of weeks. It was photographed again on October 8, and was now very desiccated and looked to be nearing the end of its life.  A hard frost struck shortly after and the spider was not seen again.  Oddly, throughout much of the time that the spider watched over the egg case, an immature grasshopper sat on a nearby leaf (for at least 2 weeks).  Although in very close proximity, the grasshopper and the spider never bothered one another.

  General vicinity of UTM: 18 T 0453830, 5003416 (WGS84)., Reference Photographs:  (3 photos)

  Spider on Sept 17, 2003: http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/24047219, Spider on Oct. 8, 2003: http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/24047740, Grasshopper that sat on leaf near the spider:  http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/24047225. 

  
  (edited by admin Apr 5, 2007 at 12:56:37 AM MST)

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• Aug 30, 2003

  
  John W Hancock
  49.5691, -113.8916
  5    
  Added: Mar 15, 2007 at 9:41:52 AM MST

  As the common name implies these specimens were taken by hand from Goldenrod flower heads. This is by the way not a good common name for this spider, as it is found on so many different plants and the goldenrod is just one at the very end of its season.

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• Jul 29, 2003

  
  John W Hancock
  49.4801, -113.967
  1    
  Added: Mar 15, 2007 at 9:44:10 AM MST

  With egg-sac under curled leaf.

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• Jul 20, 2000

  
  John W Hancock
  49.091, -113.8855
  1    1    1    
  Added: Mar 14, 2007 at 3:57:58 PM MST

  Fairly common on Ox-eyed Daisies. Spiderlings curl petal inwards and use this as a shelter.

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