The color the spider is matching is the black-eyed Susan flower
This month, we are featuring creatures with camouflage capabilities. This spider is capable of changing its color based on the surrounding environment. In this case, the color the spider is matching is the black-eyed Susan flower it hunts upon. Wild Boyz Photography featured a different coloration of goldenrod crab spider back in October 2021. Check it out here!
As the name suggests, these spiders are crab-like in a few ways. They are able to move efficiently in all directions. Their front legs are their longest legs. As I approached with the lens of my camera, this spider used its long front legs to try and intimidate me.
If you look closely, you will see the small black eyes atop its head. They are arranged in a way that provides multidirectional vision, which is key to its hunting, which is primarily visual based. It also uses these eyes to color match with its surroundings, through what is known as “active camouflage”. These spiders also change body color through eating certain colored prey. It is the abdomen of the spider in particular that will change color.
These predators will wait atop flowers on a sunny day. The spider knows that on sunny days there will be a lot of pollinator visitors. Eventually a pollinator will visit the flower, and that is when the spider makes its move. Since the goldenrod crab spider venom is potent, they are able to take down prey larger than itself. Their diet includes bees, flies, small wasps, dragonflies, and butterflies.
This photo was taken at Bangor City Forest in Maine. Open all year, the Bangor City Forest is more than 600 acres in size with 9+ miles of hiking trails. I’ve visited this forest in different seasons and have always found it a beautiful place to explore.
Goldenrod crab spiders practice active camouflage
Did you know?
- Goldenrod crab spiders can change their body color, however sometimes it can take days or even weeks.
- Goldenrod crab spiders can turn from yellow to white faster than they can turn from white to yellow.
- Female goldenrod crab spiders grow to be larger than male goldenrod crab spiders.
- Although there are many species of crab spiders found across the world, the goldenrod crab spider is only found in North America and Europe.
- These spiders will typically only live for two years.
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