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Close-up of crab spider in oriental poppy flower
Crab spider. Close-up of a white crab spider (Misumena vatia) inside an oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) flower. Crab spiders are so called be- cause they lurk in flowers, and can move sideways to align themselves with approaching prey. They do not spin webs, but use silk as an anchor line and for climbing. Standing motionless with front legs apart, they wait until the prey is close, then grab it and inject a lethal poison. They can kill insects as big as bumblebees, and are often taken for a short flight before crash-landing and then sucking out the contents of the prey's body. Crab spiders sometimes adapt to the colour of the flower. This one was captured on a white daisy.
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