2 minute read
Flower-crab Spider
from Featherbrooke News
FB Nature
Flower-crab Spider
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Ref: https://southlandssun.co.za/77347/flower-crab-spider-camouflage-king/
As seen on the cover of this issue.
THE flower-crab spider is a common resident in gardens and nature reserves throughout Durban and most of South Africa. They are masters of camouflage and are seldom seen.
This pink crab spider awaits its prey, ready to embrace it with a death hug.
It may look pure and innocent, but don’t underestimate this crab spider’s bite.
Beware the little crab spider, it’s ready to pounce!
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Flower-crab Spider
Continued from page 31
They are relatively small, usually not growing any larger than a 20 cent coin. The interesting thing about these spiders is that they are able to change their colour to suit their host flower. However this colour change is not instant, it can take them around eight hours to change colour to suit their new host flower. Their favourite colours are white, yellow and pink. For some reason they cannot camouflage in red or blue. They are most commonly found sitting in the centre of a flower where they will often have their forearms stretched open wide, as if they are waiting for a big hug. But don’t let this appearance fool you – they are actually waiting for a bee or fly to visit the flower, when their arms close shut like a bear trap and they sink their fangs into their unsuspecting prey. Their venom works almost instantly to paralyse and kill their pray. These are one of the most successful ambush hunters that I know, often taking two or three prey items in a single day. I have had some comments on social media where people have told me that now they know these spiders are around, they will never pick a wild flower again. There is really no reason to have such a fear for these spiders.
This spider’s venom is harmless to humans, and like almost all spiders, they will not bite you unless their lives are threatened. When disturbed by humans or other creatures that might eat them, these spiders avoid all conflict by curling up into a self- defensive ball and fall to the ground. Take time out and go into your garden to see if you can spot one of these amazing little creatures, but do not kill them as they serve a very important purpose in the food chain.
