Crab Spider

Common Name and Latin Name
The Common Name and Latin Name are as follows:
Common Name (s): Crab Spider,
Latin Name: Misumena vatia

Crab Spider identification - what does it look like?
It may take a few days but the Crab Spider can change its colour to match it's background, they may appear white, yellow or green and sometimes have two very faint red lines that run along their abdomen.

What do Crab Spiders eat? What is its prey?
Crab Spiders eat:

• Flies

• Other small insects

Is the Crab Spider poisonous?
All types (except Uloboridae) are poisonous! However Crab spiders are harmless to humans.

How big is the Crab Spider?
The Crab Spider can grow to a size of 10mm in length.

Where does the Crab Spider live, what is its habitat?
They are very common in the south of England and also found in Wales.

What is the average life span of the Crab Spider?
This type of spider lives on average for 2 years however this is not known for certain. 

Does the Crab Spider have good eyesight?
Generally speaking the Crab Spider has very good eyesight in order to catch its prey. 

Facts and Information about the Crab Spider
Did you know the following facts about the arachnid commonly known as the Crab Spider?

• Fact One - The Crab spider sits on flowers waiting for its prey to land close before pouncing on it, trapping its prey between its claw like front legs.

• Fact Two - Like most spiders, the male is smaller than the female.
• Fact Three - They are seen during April to September.

Classification of the Crab Spider
Species of spiders are classified according to shared physical characteristics. Spider taxonomy is the science of finding, describing, classifying and naming organisms in a hierarchical system. This method of classification helps when a description of 40,000 spiders is required! The organization of living things have seven major categories: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. The classification of the Crab Spider is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia
(Kingdom relates to the highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped; one of five biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia) :

Phylum: Arthropoda
(Phyla are groups of classes. A series of animals or plants genetically connected with shared characteristics. The second biggest grouping in taxonomy. Arthropoda are jointed-foot invertebrates: arachnids, crustaceans, insects etc

Class: Arachnida
A Class is a taxonomic group containing one or more orders. Arachnid  consist of any of the eight-legged creatures, including spiders and scorpions, of the class Arachnida

Order: Araneae
A taxonomic order, within the class Arachnida (spiders)

Subclass:
The Subclass is nother taxonomic category below a class and above an order which helps in the classification process

Family: Thomisidae
Another taxonomic category below an order and above a genus which helps in the classification process.

Genus: Misumena
Another taxonomic category below a family and above the level of species which helps in the classification process.

Species: M. vatia
Specis is a taxonomic group whose members can interbreed.

Spider Exterminators - Pest Control 
Generally speaking, people do not like spiders especially Crab Spiders and most of all, do not want them in their homes! There are many forms of pest control and ways to exterminate spiders such as Crab Spiders. There are spider exterminators, services, spider zappers, spider traps, spider repeller, spider catchers, spider traps for the removal and extermination process. Advice is available on subjects such as pest controls, pest prevention, spider catchers, spider exterminators and how to kill spiders like Crab Spiders. Some people would like to eliminate spiders from there homes completely, this can be very difficult as an open window on a summers day will allow spiders in, even opening your front door when entering and leaving will allow pesky spiders in. It is very easy to get rid of Crab Spiders by catching them yourself. Its best not to kill spiders as they are very important in controlling the level of other insects that are pests.