Arachtober: Goldenrod Crab Spiders

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) and
Mining Bee (Genus Andrena)

You'll find these beautiful spiders across the US and southern Canada. If you haven't seen any, you are missing something of beauty. They can actually change their color from yellow to white and back. However, it takes an entire month to do that, and in Vermont summer is gone in a month. Almost. They may or may not have the red stripes. They also may be green or have pink. There is another flower crab spider that is so similar to this species that I try my best to photograph the eyes. The placement of the eyes is the determining field mark for me.

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) and
Mining Bee (Genus Andrena)

These spiders don't make a web. They are hunter spiders, so they jump at prey when it comes close. They do have draglines, though, which you may see in these photographs if you look at them in the large format by clicking. The goldenrod crab spins silk to hold her eggs. She will then fold a leaf around the eggs (which is one reason why I gave that entomologist such a hard time about the identification of the candy-striped spider with all the webbing). Funny thing, though: I've never found eggs. I have to look harder. This is a female spider in the photos because the males are brown and are very small. Mother spider stays with her eggs until they hatch. Then she dies. But she may live for at least two years, which I find heartening amongst all of the short lives of other insects.

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) and
Mining Bee (Genus Andrena)

There are so many different flower crab spiders; from this large goldenrod crab on black-eyed susan, to tiny little green or white ones on fleabane or oxeye daisies. It seems that the smaller they are, the quicker they run, so tread quietly and don't cast a shadow on them if you want to see them. All of them will go under the flower petal that they are hunting on if they are aware of you. The goldenrod crab will eat anything that moves: even another goldenrod crab spider! Unfortunately, it had caught this miner bee. It was not the nicest thing to watch, but it is what life is.

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) and
Mining Bee (Genus Andrena)

The reason why researchers are trying to learn if candy-striped spiders are impacting pollinators in North America is for this very reason. Before them, there was a healthy balance of spiders and pollinators. With the candy-striped spider, it is possible that the balance could skew towards the spider. We need to know what is going on. Your observations will help researchers find an answer. 

Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) and
Mining Bee (Genus Andrena)

References:

1. KidZone: Goldenrod Crab Spider
2. Bugguide: Species Misumena vatia - Goldenrod Crab Spider
3. Bugguide: Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) Photo #5610
4. KidZone: Spider Fact Index 
5. iNaturalist: Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia)

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