Ground Crab Spiders, Episode 27, Season 2

It’s a good thing Brody doesn’t have arachnophobia because in episode 27 he shows off a special spider. There are more than 130 species of Crab Spiders (Xysticus spp.) in North America. Several species of Ground Crab Spiders can be found in Missouri, including the Whitebanded Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) and the Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia). There are also several species Foliage Flower Spiders, including the Green Crab Spider (Misumessus oblongus), the Northern Crab Spider (Mecaphesa asperata), and the one that Brody found, the Swift Crab Spider (Mecaphesa celer).

Look at Those Legs
Ground Crab Spiders are named after their legs which resemble crabs. The legs of Ground Crab Spiders, like the Swift Crab Spider in this video, extend outward from the sides of the body. This unique design allows these spiders to walk in any direction.

Staying Grounded
Ground Crab Spiders are primarily found on or near the ground. This includes under leaves and rocks or crawling on fence posts or flowering plants. The Swift Ground Spider is relatively large for the species and can be found across North America.

Spider Surprise
Ground Crab Spiders, including the Swift Crab Spider, are ambush predators. They hide under rocks and sticks or on the bottom of flowers or leaves and wait for smaller insects or other spiders to pass by. They then run out and grab their prey and bite it.

Color Changers
Female Swift Crab Spiders can be twice the size of males. They tend to be yellow in color, with their abdomens varying in yellow coloring. Some have red streaks on the abdomen, while others have brown spots or white with dull brown streaks. Males also tend to be darker colored with red banding on their legs. The males also have white abdomens with four brown spots forming a V-shape. One unique trick these spiders can do is change their body color slightly over a period of days to match their surroundings. This allows them to blend in or camouflage on their flower or stick, helping them ambush their prey.

Short Lives
These spiders only live for a single season. They hatch from eggs in spring and spend the spring, summer, and early fall growing, maturing, and mating. Breeding typically ends badly for the males, with the females tending to eat them. Females will lay egg cases multiple times during this period. As winter approaches and the temperature begins to drop, the metabolism for Ground Crab Spiders slows. They will eventually die during or after the first freeze. The egg cases will overwinter, and the spiderlings will hatch in the spring, starting the cycle again.

Eat and Eaten
Ground Crab Spiders play an important role in our ecosystem, keeping many insect populations in check. They are also a critical food source for other animals, including birds, reptiles, mammals, and other spiders. Many of them eat Ground Spiders or Ground Spider Eggs.

Meet Brody
If you are new to the channel, Brody is fascinated by bugs and animals. At first, he would watch wildlife documentaries and YouTube videos. Then he started going outside and exploring to see what he could find. It didn't take long before he started finding some interesting creatures in his own backyard. He loved sharing his discoveries with his brother, sister, and friends so much that he started this channel. This way he can show them videos and not just describe the bug or animal. Brody does all his own research, with some help from his parents, as well as his uncle and aunt who are biologist. He looks up facts on the animals and bugs he catches and shares them. Despite his confidence, Brody is not a bug expert. (Although he thinks he is.) All comments from Brody should be taken as opinion until confirmed by experts.